Second bids for Manchester United have to be lodged by the middle of next week - with final offers due around Easter, Sportsmail understands.
It had been thought that those in the running to buy the club – or provide investment – would be given around 10 days to lodge their second bids.
But sources in the City and within the club say that, in a tightening of the process, midweek is the cut-off point, with Wednesday the likeliest deadline.
It remains to be seen if, following second bids, those involved will enter into an exclusivity period with one group.