ROME, Feb 7 (Reuters) - French telecoms operator Iliad

is looking at a potential consolidation deal with Italy's former

phone monopolist Telecom Italia (TIM), Italian

newspapers Corriere della Sera and La Stampa reported on Friday.

La Stampa said Iliad has given a mandate to Boston Consulting

Group to study a possible deal, while Corriere said Iliad,

assisted by Lazard ( LAZ ), had recent talks with the Italian economy

ministry, which holds just under 10% of the phone operator.

Iliad was not immediately available for comment.

Corriere added CVC was looking at TIM's services for

businesses unit, with the idea of merging it with ICT group

Maticmind, which the private equity group controls and in which

Italian state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti has a stake.