Manchester United are reportedly expecting up to EIGHT bids before Wednesday's deadline as the race hots up to take over at Old Trafford.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani have publicly made their interest clear.
But as many as six other parties could enter the bidding process in the next 48 hours.
Other potential bidders have remained under the radar, although US hedge fund Elliott Management also visited the club after making its initial proposal.
Just how strict this deadline is, and whether any other bidders emerge, remains unclear.
BBC Sport reports United officials met eight different potential investors over a 10-day period of high-level meetings recently, and confidence is high that several could make formal offers.
It could mean that a 'preferred bidder' is declared by Raine - the investment bank conducting the sale - very soon, with it then granted exclusivity on the more thorough due diligence process that would take place.
It means the only two publicly-declared bids - Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim and Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe - will have had just a few days to consider the data and information they discovered last week during visits to Old Trafford and the club's Carrington training complex.
Both parties are understood to have held positive meetings with United officials and both are thought to remain committed to a takeover and expected to make improved, more detailed bids.
But while the amount that both have so far offered has not been disclosed (with reports both are in the region of £4.5bn), they are clearly far below the £5-6bn valuation that the club's American owners - the Glazers - have established.
Ineos want to buy the combined Glazer shareholding of around 69%, while the Qataris are targeting 100% of the club.
