Just on dates and deadlines, there's nothing in any reports including the original Times report that gives a start date to the due diligence exclusivity so it is impossible to state the end date. Nor should it be assumed (i) that due diligence takes as long as the exclusivity period (ii) an offer would be immediately made after due diligence and (iii) that the offer be accepted.
That, with the probability of other interested parties means it is impossible to estimate when news is forthcoming. It will happen when it happens, if it happens.