Aug 28 (Reuters) - Discount home goods retailer Big Lots ( BIG )

is considering a potential bankruptcy filing and may

seek court protection within weeks, Bloomberg reported on

Wednesday, citing people familiar with the plans.

The company is also looking for investors in a bid to avoid

Chapter 11, according to the report.

Big Lots ( BIG ) did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for

comment. Its shares fell 27% in extended trading and have lost

nearly 88% of their value this year.

Big Lots ( BIG ) is attempting to shore up its liquidity that has

been pressured by a sales decline over the last two years as

high interest rates hurt demand for big-ticket discretionary

purchases.

The plans are not final and Big Lots' ( BIG ) path may change, the

report said.

In June, the company raised going-concern doubts after

posting a bigger-than-expected quarterly loss and said it may

not be able to meet its credit and loan obligations in the near

future.

At the end of the first quarter, the company had $289 million

of net liquidity and $44 million in cash and cash equivalents.