Roman Abramovich is likely to have to sell Chelsea at a loss unless he can attract a sovereign wealth fund or multiple billionaires with an appetite for a bidding war - neither of which appears likely.
The Russian oligarch is reportedly seeking £3bn for the club, with some outlandish claims going as high as £4bn.
One objective price tag range, using a widely respected valuation tool known as the Markham Multivariate Model (MMM), is between £1.25bn and £1.5bn.
The MMM was developed in 2013 by accountant Tom Markham, who has worked widely in football both as an advisor to club buyers and consultant to governing bodies in matters relating to football finance.