U.K.'s Barclays PLC (BCS) is interested in buying some of the branches of Italy's Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS.MI) put up for sale, reports La Repubblica in its Thursday Internet edition, quoting Vittorio De Stasio, chief executive officer of Barclays Italia.

De Stasio said the bank is looking to end 2009 with 200 branches in Italy. The bank currently has 150 branches in the country, 35 of which were opened in 2009, the paper adds.

Newspaper Web site: http://www.repubblica.it/

-Dow Jones Newswires; enza.tedesco@dowjones.com