Data storage firm Western Digital is in advanced negotiations to acquire memory chipmaker SanDisk.

People familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that the companies could reach an agreement as soon as this week.

SanDisk has a market capitalisation of $14.6bn and Western Digital has a market capital of around $22bn.

US-based SanDisk designs, develops and manufactures flash memory storage devices and software.

The company’s flash memory technologies are used by several of the global data centres, embedded in the most advanced smartphones, tablets, and laptops.

SanDisk is expanding the potential of storage from handheld devices to hyper-scale data centres.

Earlier this month, SanDisk partnered with HP, in plans which may signal a move to thwart the Intel and Micron 3D XPoint memory tie-up.

Apart from Western Digital, Micron Technology is also negotiating to acquire SanDisk, which uses Toshiba’s foundries to make its chips.

Any agreement with SanDisk needs a sign off from Toshiba. Analysts said the Japanese firm is more likely to accept Western Digital as a buyer for SanDisk.