East Bengal seem to be resigned to that fact that the team’s performance in the next ISL would be no different from the last two editions.

With the deal between the club and its investor Emami Group yet to be signed, the team building process has been badly hit. To make matters worse, a transfer ban has been slapped on the club due to non-payment of salaries during Shree Cement’s tenure as investor.

“At this point in time, I can only say do not expect much. More the delay in signing the deal, the more difficult it will be to rope in good players,” a senior club official said on Sunday.

East Bengal, who played as SC East Bengal, finished last and ninth in ISL 2021-22 and 2020-21, respectively. However, both parties are hopeful that the deal will be signed by early next week.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had announced Emami as the investor on May 25. “Yes, everything will be done by next week. We are at an advanced stage of finalising the deal,” Emami director Aditya Agarwal informed.