Michael Murray, CEO of U.K.-based Frasers Group, Sports Direct’s parent company, told Bloomberg that buying the French chain Go Sport out of bankruptcy would allow his group to operate in France “with some authority rather than opening store by store,” which would significantly bolster Frasers’ plans to expand its sports chain across Europe. Sports Direct is reportedly planning to open ten flagship stores in the U.K. and ten in Europe, albeit consolidating smaller stores in some places to do so. Go Sport, which operates 80 stores in France, was placed into receivership in January after the owner no longer had the financial resources to keep the business going. According to French newspaper Les Echos, Frasers is not the only party interested in Go Sport, as other parties, including Intersport, are also said to be eyeing the French chain.

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