UK household and consumer goods firm Reckitt Benckiser is rumoured to be planning a bid for the consumer healthcare business of US drugmaker Pfizer, according to local news reports.

Reckitt has only just completed its £1.93 billion ($3.39 billion) acquisition of the Boots company's over-the-counter medicines business, reportedly fighting off bids from GlaxoSmithKline and Bayer.

The Sunday Times has reported that Reckitt has retained Merril Lynch to handle financing of the deal, and suggested it will make an offer of £6 billion ($10.5bn) for the Pfizer unit. The business has annual sales of around $4 billion, and Pfizer has indicated it is hoping for bids in the $10 billion region.