Henry Mauriss is believed to have been told he must submit a 5% deposit if he is to be considered a serious bidder to buy Newcastle United.
The American businessman has emerged as a contender to take the club off Mike Ashley's hands - but sources close to the Middle East consortium, which includes Amanda Staveley, the Public Investment Fund and the Reuben brothers, remain confident of a takeover.
There is also a feeling from the Middle East-backed group that Mauriss' arrival will matter for little if the Premier League finally approve the bid from Staveley and partners after a gruelling 11-week wait.
The American, who is chief executive of ClearTV, is believed to have verbally offered £350million for United - which has prompted questions as to why he has gone above and beyond the reported offer £300million.
Yet there are now fresh suggestions from those close to the deal that the bid received by Ashley from the PIF-backed group was higher at £340million, hence the 5% deposit of £17million.
Despite takeover talk dragging on since March, there has still be no official comment from Newcastle, the would-be Middle East owners or from Mauriss' side.
But Mauriss is thought to be eager to get his hands on a Premier League club and while he is late to the party, he is waiting to see the outcome of the Premier league's owner's and director's test.
Mauriss has not started the top-flight tests at this stage but did submit papers with Companies House recently to state his desire to own a UK business.
Mauriss is thought to be able to produce proof of funds when the time is right.
If the deal isn't passed by Premier League chiefs, sources in the States claim he is willing to test Ashley's resolve.
