Derby County could be hit with yet another points deduction - this time, next season.
The crisis-hit Rams have been in administration since last September and two separate handicaps have seen them take 21-point deduction this season.
Administrators Quantuma hope to pick a bidder to purchase the club before a meeting with the EFL early next week, in which they hope to get the green light to complete the campaign.
But a report in the Sun claims that the size of the offers coming in is raising concerns.
It is to do with how much Derby will be able to offer creditors once a takeover goes through.
Can Derby survive this season? Let us know in the comments
If their offer - believed to be less than the standard 25p in every pound - is rejected then Derby could suffer a 15-point penalty next season, regardless of what division they are in.
Manager Wayne Rooney, who has won plenty of plaudits this term for his management of a hugely difficult situation, gave a brief update on the takeover saga on Friday.
When asked directly if there was any progress on the takeover front he bluntly replied: "Nothing.
"I haven't spoken to the administrators since the game (versus Millwall), so I have had no updates.
"I don't know whether there is a bid or not, I don't know. Unfortunately I can't give you any update on that.
"(But) It needs sorting out, and sorting out quick.
"We have got seven players' contracts up at the end of the season, so we have got no squad. You need to plan to bring players in and it is a very tough job at the minute.
"I am sure the administrators are working on it and trying to get the right people in."
Rooney's side have given themselves a fighting chance of survival this term but results in recent weeks have seen the gap to safety increase.
Saturday saw them suffer a narrow 1-0 defeat away at Luton Town, who moved into the play-off places.
Derby are now eight points adrift of fourth-bottom in the Championship, with just 12 games of the season left to play.
After watching Danny Hylton notch the only goal of the game, Rooney admitted: "I'm frustrated, to be honest.
"We changed the shape, we gave Luton the respect they deserved. They are not a team blessed with great individuals but they are a good honest hard-working team, and I felt the changes we made kept them at arm's length.
"They couldn't have the impact they normally have in games, especially here, but we conceded a bad goal from our point of view.
"We keep fighting, we keep going. Myself and the players are disappointed of course, but I walk out of the stadium a proud manager of Derby County.
"The players can walk out as proud players. They have given everything and we have to react well because there's still a good chance we can stay up, but we have to start turning results like today into wins."
