Reading FC takeover update hands Royals potential big transfer boost | OneFootball

A new takeover could see Reading keep a hold of their best talent.

The news emerging out of Reading Football Club is that a deal for American Robert Platek to purchase the club could be completed as soon as April.

The Royals have long been a team in crisis with Dai Yongge's ownership gradually reaching boiling point.

In the 2022-23 season, they were relegated from the Championship after being hit with a six-point deduction for financial irregularities.

Since then, the club has faced several sanctions for failing to pay staff on time. Additionally, they have been subjected to multiple winding-up petitions due to unpaid taxes, and it appears that the financial resources have dwindled under Yongge's ownership.

This financial strain has forced the club to sell some of their key players, with Sam Smith leaving for Wrexham in January and Tyler Bindon making the move to Nottingham Forest, although he has been loaned back for the remainder of the season.

Nevertheless, the Royals will be hopeful that the emergence of Platek as a potential buyer could bring Yongge's terrible reign to a close, and they may now be able to retain their star talents.

Reading have confirmed that exclusive talks with a new owner commenced on Monday, and according to The Reading Chronicle, businessman Robert Platek is the man who has signed that agreement.

The 61-year-old has links to technology company Dell and has previously been associated with Spezia in Italy, Sønderjyske in Denmark, and Casa Pia AC in Portugal.

According to a recent report from Reading Today, all parties are hopeful that a deal can be completed. It is understood that the plan is to have it finished by April and this would pave the way for a summer window free of restrictions.

Despite this excitement, Royals fans will remain hesitant with this now being the fifth instance of the club entering an exclusivity period with a potential candidate. However, for one reason or another, there is a sense that this time the outcome may be more promising.

As previously mentioned, the January transfer window saw Reading lose Bindon and Smith on permanent deals and if Yongge remains in charge, there will be serious concerns heading into the summer.

If Platek successfully completes a takeover, his priority will be keeping hold of the Royals' top talent. Currently, 14 players are out of contract in June, including key figures in Noel Hunt’s squad such as Joel Pereira, Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan, and Michael Craig.

While some departures may be unavoidable, retaining core players is essential, as talents like Craig and Ehibhatiomhan are central to Reading’s future. Therefore, Platek’s first task upon taking over must be securing new deals for those whose contracts are set to expire in the summer.

Beyond that, he can take a firmer stance on keeping key players. The likes of Harvey Knibbs, Charlie Savage, and Lewis Wing are arguably the club’s best players, and with a new owner in place, Reading should no longer be forced into selling them.

Knibbs has scored 29 goals in 86 appearances since joining in 2022, while Wing has been exceptional, serving as the linchpin of Reading's midfield alongside Savage.

Of course, the most exciting prospect for supporters is the chance to strengthen the squad in the summer, and with a solid foundation already in place, next season could be hugely promising.