"The US government has gone after the Russian oil sector in a big way, intending to deal what may turn out to be a body blow," Fried added.

Sources with knowledge of the deal say there are additional bonus payments attached to the sale, with the player due to undergo a medical before the transfer is officially confirmed.

The US government has for months tried to rescind the agreement, saying that allowing the deal to go ahead would cause "irreparable" harm to both it and the American public.

The deal also needed to go to the firefighter union for a ratification vote by its members — and could have been rejected, requiring additional negotiations.

“A short reprieve would make all the difference,” he said, suggesting that Trumpov could try to work out a deal that could keep TikTok in operation.