U.K. sporting goods retailer Sports Direct International PLC is in talks with Modell’s Sporting Goods about a potential deal to acquire as many as 200 Sports Authority stores out of the retailer’s bankruptcy, the Wall Street Journal reported today. Sports Authority revealed in court papers filed on Friday that it is in advanced discussions regarding a potential sale of 100 to 200 of its stores. Bids for Sports Authority store leases are due on Thursday, and stores with leases that go unsold are in danger of going dark. With going-out-of-business sales in full swing at nearly 450 Sports Authority stores, the possible deal could be the last hope of saving anything of the ailing business. Sports Authority filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in March and is expected to wrap up its liquidation by the end of July.
