Nov 18 (Reuters) - Buyout firm Blackstone is

nearing a deal for Jersey Mike's Subs that would value the U.S.

sandwich chain at around $8 billion, including debt, and could

be announced as early as this week, a person familiar with the

matter told Reuters on Monday.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the news earlier on

Monday.

(Reporting by Anirban Sen in New York and Rhea Rose Abraham in

Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)