There is a lot of following in journalism. One guy puts an exclusive out and other papers follow it. It was similar with the Bloomberg story but the difference was the Bloomberg story had infinitely (and immeasurably) most credence than that Mirror Article. It was a better written article, had much stronger links, in a more reputable paper, with a more in touch journalist and was followed by very firm words from a senior board member at Everton Keith Harris who validated the story by saying they'd look at options for funding.
This is obviously day 1 of the story and maybe within 48 hours sources from Charlton will come out and verify it in the same way but until that happens, especially given all the other metrics out there I'd be very sceptical of giving the story any validity.
On the "we'd all be creaming ourselves if he had said he'd be buying into Everton" I am not really sure that is true at all. The reality is Darren Lewis the same (Liverpool supporting) journalist wrote exactly that a couple of weeks back (in mid august). He said he was "set to invest in Everton" or something much firmer than the "considering" to invest in Charlton. I can't think of a single comment on here, or even on other forums or social media that referenced the article. I know I certainly didn't. All I remember saying was avoid reading too much into what sports journalists for tabloids are saying on this as I don't believe they have any connections to Usmanov and I don't think he would let that be known.
People can't have it both ways. You can't say "oh it's only an unconnected sports journalist" when he's saying he will buy Everton and "this is caste iron proof" "it's a goer" when it says about someone else. You have to have a consistency. I've tried to do that. I read whats said in Bloomberg and the FT as very significant. I'm not dogmatic on such things, if a report of similar credibility emerges I will treat it as such. Until then I defer to the far more credible news outlets we have had.
What it's worth considering at this point is why would Usmanov choose to announce this intention, via Darren Lewis in the Mirror? If he was really looking a Charlton, why would choose that publication and that journalist. This is a publication that has had David Maddocks writing he will never invest in Everton while his colleague Lewis wrote he would invest in Everton. Not only have they got very limited intelligence but why has Lewis changed his story in 3 weeks? Why would Usmanov waste his time with him? Why would he have Lewis leak it, unless something imminently happens?
This is a man who has leaked very little when he moved (think the FF sponsorship, think the day he said he'd help Everton financially) those just came out. For the information around Arsenal and selling shares he used the FT. For further clarification of intention to buy Everton he used the most respected business outlet in the worlds biggest economy. It is unfathomable he'd use Lewis as an exclusive. It was unfathomable when Lewis announced he was imminently buying into Everton 3 weeks ago. Hence why nobody paid it any credence.
For me this looks like a leak at the Charlton end. It looks as if you have owners out of their depth, desperate to sell, with a club who look a terrible immediate prospect for investment. They are a million miles off promotion this season so they are at least 3 years away from getting to the PL. The are losing money hand over fist. They are situated in a poor part of London and have significant competition from Millwall and Crystal Palace as well as then sides like West Ham just north of the river.
The fella making out they could get a stadium over 40k I am not sure if he's ever visited the ground. The only end that could really be extended is the away end, and I can't see them being able to add 15k to the capacity their already. They would likely need a new ground if they were doing it. In that part of London, not very easy to find sites. There are roads land locking 2 ends of the ground and even an end behind the away end which would limit development to 3-4k more.
It would be a huge investment, and long term project for a side who are in the 3rd tier, got 1k in a game recently where we had 32k. My feeling is it's leaked by the board at Charlton as a come and get me attempt and to drum up interest. I imagine Kopites like Lewis are happy to muddy the waters. He will lose any credibility on Usmanov but it's not like he had any to begin with, so not a lot to lose there.
As I've said throughout, expect a lot more random links. Expect more with far greater credibility. Buying and selling at that level is a lot about bluff and counter bluff. It will not go smoothly. You do need to properly investigate each link though.