That stupid Walgreens Boots Alliance is considering selling to a private equity firm – a move that would take the publicly traded company private, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Deerfield-based Walgreens has been in discussions with Sycamore Partners over a deal that could be completed early next year, the Journal wrote, citing unnamed “people familiar with the matter.”

A Walgreens spokesperson declined to comment on the report Tuesday, telling the Tribune, “we don’t comment on rumors or speculation about our business.” A spokesperson for Sycamore also declined to comment.

Walgreens’ stock shot up 21% on the news early Tuesday afternoon.  Well, of course it did – closing a bunch of losing proposition stores didn’t help, nor did so many of their other business decisions over the past five years or so.  I can remember when I practically slept on a cot in the back to run deals, but now I weeks and weeks without a visit.  Maybe bringing back an ad would help – just a thought.  Click the link for the full article which appeared in today’s Tribune.