Thomas Cook sold most of the fleet in a sale and leaseback arrangement a few years ago. We were strapped for cash. Lufthansa may well be interested in gaining control of Condor as it is a different model to the rest of the group airlines. Lots of scheduled slots in Germany and lots of previous history.
I cannot see them wanting any other part of the business. Certainly not a tour operator with a load of shops on the UK high street.
As for the Daily Mail article, total rubbish. Nothing new there though...