Carphone Warehouse - which owns AOL Broadband - may put in a bid for the UK arm of Tiscali, it has been claimed.

Such is the suggestion of a Times article published today (April 3rd), in which it is stated that the broadband and telecoms provider has emerged as a potential bidder for Tiscali, which was put up for sale this week.

However, chief financial officer of the Tiscali Massimo Cristofori is reported as saying that while such a bid would be considered, breaking up Tiscali's domestic and international broadband services is an unfavourable idea.

Broadband providers BT and Sky have also been identified as potential buyers, although a source at BT has said that such a purchase would be unlikely.

Tiscali is the fourth largest UK broadband provider after Virgin Media, BT and Talk Talk.

A recent Forbes report has suggested that Tiscali expects to have found a buyer before it holds its annual general meeting on April 29th.