BBC business editor Robert Peston speculates that Alexander Lebedev will finally buy the Independent tomorrow or Thursday.
"The deal has been expected for weeks; on-off negotiations have been going on for well over a year. And those close to the Lebedevs say they hope to unveil their plans tomorrow or the day after."
But then he writes:
"That said, it wouldn't be a great surprise if there was another delay. Last week agreement was held up over what Trinity Mirror might demand if a Lebedev-owned Indy decided to remove distribution from the Mirror publisher."
Peston is wise to be cautious.
The Times reported on 5 March that Lebedev had bought the paper, while the Sunday Times reported that the deal would complete the week of 28 February, before reporting on 7 March that the deal would happen "in the next few days".
So we believe Peston when he says the deal might happen this week. We also believe him when he says it might not.
