AXEL Springer Verlag, Germany's biggest newspaper publisher, said yesterday it was considering making a bid for Mirror Group, the British tabloid newspaper owner.

In a hurriedly prepared statement published after the London Stock Exchange closed, Springer, which owns Germany's biggest tabloid newspaper, Bild, confirmed it was considering a number of "opportunities", including an offer for Mirror.

That contradicted comments from Springer yesterday morning denying that it had any interest in the group.

Mirror Group appeared to have been caught on the hop by the news. Mr Kelvin MacKenzie, Mirror Group deputy chief executive, yesterday said the company was more likely to be bought by Jerry Springer, the American TV host, than Axel Springer.

Mirror denied it had had any talks with Springer. However, Mr David Montgomery, chief executive, met Mr Gus Fischer, the new head of Springer, for lunch a few weeks ago. Mr Fischer used to be chief executive officer of News International, owner of the Sun and the News of the World newspapers.

In an interview earlier this month, Mr Fischer expressed an interest in British newspapers.

Analysts speculated that an offer might be priced at up to 260p a share, which would value Mirror's equity at £1.2 billion sterling. .

The shares closed yesterday up 6.5p to 218p as rumours of a bid circulated.

Mirror, which owns regional newspapers and a cable television station as well as national titles, has been seen as vulnerable to takeover approaches.