It's no secret that MF Global has been hurting lately. Dick Bove thinks that may open the door for CEO Jon Corzine to sell the firm to his former employer, Goldman Sachs. Moody’s recent downgrading of the firm's credit rating combined with a surprise loss reported Tuesday sent investors running for the exits with the stock tumbling more than 50% in a matter of days. That's triggered chatter far and wide that MF Global is in trouble, though the firm insists its financial position remains strong. However Bove thinks Goldman could be interested in MF’s assets because he expects the firm will have to sell them at a steep discount. Bove says if Goldman holds the assets and then re-sells them in the future, they’ll probably turn a handsome profit. As an example he said, “The company has $6.2 billion in European debt on its balance sheet and more than half of that is from Italy. If my view is correct purchasing those bonds at a significant discount is not the wrong thing to do.” Bove's comments follow a report in the Wall Street Journal that suggests the company is looking to sell itself. According to the paper, MF Global Holdings has hired at least two investment banks to review its strategic options. [CNBC, 10/26/11]