Department store chain Debenhams is in talks to recruit former Kingfisher boss Sir Ian Cheshire to its boardroom, according to reports.

Cheshire, who quit as boss of Kingfisher a year ago, could replace Nigel Northridge as chairman of the department store chain, the Sunday Times reported.

However, sources told the newspaper that no agreement had yet been reached with Cheshire. Last year he reportedly also held talks about taking up the role of chairman at Tesco, but this did not materialise.

Debenhams is set to lose its chief executive Michael Sharp this year, after he revealed plans in October to step down. It came as the chain reported full-year profits rose 7.3%, following a turbulent few years.