61-year-old American in talks to seal Reading FC takeover to end Dai Yongge era | OneFootball

A US-based investor has opened exclusive talks to take over League One side Reading

The proposed takeover of Reading FC reportedly involves a US investor with links to technology company Dell.

According to The Reading Chronicle, businessman Robert Platek signed an exclusivity agreement on Monday as talks get underway over the purchase of the League One club.

The Royals have been struggling with financial issues for a number of years now, with supporters urging the current owner, Dai Yongge, to sell his stake in the Berkshire outfit.

However, despite a number of false dawns, no takeover has yet come to fruition, with the team now competing for a play-off place in the third tier this season under Noel Hunt.

Reading FC takeover latest

Robert Platek has emerged as a potential candidate to take over Reading, entering exclusive talks with the club over a deal.

The club confirmed earlier this week that exclusive talks have been entered, and it is believed to be the 61-year-old, who has links to Dell through founder Michael Dell.

It has also been reported by The Sun that a long-term partner of Platek's, Nishant Tella, is also involved with the deal.

It is understood that Platek wants to buy Yongge's shares of the club, as well as the stadium, training ground and all other assets.

The businessman's previous experience in English football involves his investment company MSD, who have offered loans to the likes of Burnley and Derby County, among others.

However, it's believed that this venture to purchase Reading is an individual one, and will have no ties to MSD Holdings.

It remains to be seen whether an agreement can actually be reached, with multiple parties previously reaching this stage before negotiations collapsed.

Supporters will be hopeful that this is the beginning of a takeover process that can help secure the long-term future of the club.

Platek has previous experience investing in football, recently selling his stake in Italian side Spezia, and he also remains an investor in Portuguese outfit Casa Pia.

The American also owned Danish side Sonderjyske, and was linked with the purchase of Sunderland as recently as 2019.

Reading FC’s promotion ambition

Reading are currently ninth in the League One table after 32 games, with Hunt’s side sitting three points behind Leyton Orient.

Orient occupy the final play-off place, with the likes of Charlton Athletic and Bolton Wanderers also in the mix for that last position inside the top six.

Reading are unbeaten in their last five league games, but have only won twice in that run.

Next up for the Royals is a clash away to Wigan Athletic on 1 March.

Supporters will be wary of another false dawn

This could be an exciting venture forward for Reading if this deal can actually come to pass.

However, there have been too many close calls to completing a deal only to end up in disappointment that supporters will likely be wary until everything is finally all made official.

It does show the potential of the club that there have been so many people willing to take it over.

If this deal comes to pass, then it will be a great step forward for Reading, but nothing is guaranteed until anything is signed on the dotted line.