JD Sports is reportedly interested in acquiring the entire Debenhams business and entered into talks with the department store chain’s advisor Lazard and administrators FRP over the weekend, according to The Times. 

While sources have cautioned the talks could yet come to nothing, a prospective deal has the potential to save the jobs of Debenhams’ 12,000 staff and secure the future of its 124 stores, after the department store chain fell into its second administration inside 12 months earlier in the year.