The sale of Chelsea Football Club could come down to an auction among interested parties, who will be asked submit sealed bids, according to a leading sports lawyer.
A deadline of Friday has been set for potential buyers to formally lodge their interest with New York Merchant Bank, the Raine Group
However, with Chelsea operating under a special licence after owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government last week, the sale is best by complications and uncertainties, say lawyers.
The Government claims the Russian oligarch, who has owned Chelsea since 2003, received financial benefits from the Kremlin - including tax breaks for his companies, the buying and selling of shares from and to the state at favourable rates and contracts in the run up to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, it was claimed.