Following reports last month that Acer was to buy flagging computer maker Packard Bell, Lenovo has now stepped into the frame in what could end up a bidding war.

The world's third-largest maker of personal computers the Chinese company is in talks to buy European PC maker Packard Bell, the companies said on Tuesday.

"Lenovo is in exclusive talks to acquire Packard Bell", a Packard Bell spokesman said, denying the media report that Lenovo was competing with Acer to buy Packard Bell.

However has confirmed to Pocket-lint that "At this stage, the proposed acquisition may or may not materialise".

The move would mean Lenovo would have a strong presence in the desktop computer market as well as laptops thought its Thinkpad (previously IBM) offering.