Keith Pelley, the outgoing DP World Tour chief executive, has given the clearest indication yet that a deal with the Saudi Public Investment Fund could be reached soon by revealing that he asked to stay on for an extra three months to help the negotiations get over the line.

Telegraph Sport exclusively reported last month that the European circuit, alongside the PGA Tour, had agreed to extend the talks until April and Pelley’s rich positivity explains why this date might prove to be important.

“I’m here for the next three months and by then we hope to come to a conclusion and I’ve told the PGA Tour and representatives from PIF that is my primary focus” said Pelley, who announced on Thursday that he would be moving back to his hometown of Toronto to take control of four of the city’s sports franchises.