US operator Sprint Nextel is at the centre of industry speculation linking it to two major moves. The first, more widely reported story, involves the possibility of Deutsche Telekom considering a takeover of the operator. Merrill Lynch analysts wrote in a report last week that Deutsche Telekom, owner of Sprint Nextel rival T-Mobile USA, could launch an acquisition attempt. Meanwhile, technology website Seeking Alpha has claimed Sprint has hired Morgan Stanley in a bid to spin off Nextel.