How much Dai Yongge values Reading FC at as Rob Couhig closes in on takeover | OneFootball

Dai Yongge has until April 22 to sell up his shares - otherwise Reading face suspension - or worse - from the EFL

Reading FC remain in purgatory after another period of exclusivity ended with a potential buyer, Robert Platek pulling out of any possible deal.

With a deadline imposed by the EFL looming over the club for current owner Dai Yongge to divest his shares in Reading, the Royals are now subject to interest from an alternative bidder, believed to be Rob Couhig.

Former Wycombe Wanderers owner Couhig has come close to purchasing Reading before, only for Yongge to pull out of the deal at the last hour.

A stumbling block in any potential deal might be Yongge’s valuation of a club that has snuck into the League One play-offs with five games remaining.

Dai Yongge’s most recent valuation of Reading FC

Reading fans have been put through the wringer by current owner Dai Yongge, who initially invested huge sums of money after first buying the Royals in 2017.

Chasing a return to the Premier League, Reading paid fees such as a reported £7million for Sone Aluko, indicating Yongge’s desire to invest in the Royals.

However, Yongge’s lavish spending caught up with him, with Reading hit with a six-point deduction for breaking the EFL’s financial rules during the 2021/22 season.

Yongge’s interest then waned, with Reading hit with another six-point deduction for failing to stick to an agreed business plan with the EFL.

The situation worsened the following season, with a further four points taken off for failure to pay players’ wages on time on multiple occasions.

Despite all of this financial uncertainty, Yongge has reportedly held out for a large sum to relinquish control of the club.

Back in February 2024, Yongge reportedly valued the Royals at a minimum of £30million - with the caveat of further fees to be paid to him in the event of subsequent promotions after his reign.

However, Yongge did not factor in the sale of players into his valuation, with potential buyers believing that Reading were worth less after having sold George Puscas, Tom Holmes, and Tom Ince, amongst other names.

That being said, it appeared Yongge would have gotten close to his desired fee, with Rob Couhig agreeing a £25million fee for the Royals last summer.

Rob Couhig hoping second attempt to buy Reading is successful

Reading fans had hoped that their ordeal would be over when Robert Platek entered into a period of exclusivity with Dai Yongge, with the Royals' owner having until April 22 to sell his shares in the club.

Platek’s now broken-down negotiations were impacted by the fact that Couhig has a security on Reading’s Select Car Leasing Stadium and their training base of Bearwood Park.

Couhig received those securities against Reading’s key assets after loaning the Royals £5million.

The American businessman is aiming to strike a deal with Yongge that will see the Chinese owner sell his stakes in Reading, their stadium, and their training ground.

Ironically, Couhig agreed to buy Bearwood Park when still owner of Wycombe in February 2024; Yongge had attempted to sell the Royals’ training facilities, constructed for a cost of £50million, in order to raise funds for Reading’s operational costs.

Wycombe agreed a deal for Bearwood Park, offering a “substantial” fee that was near the same amount offered for the entire club by a then-interested consortium, who were not named.

However, it soon became clear that due to the local council’s planning laws, that only Reading could use the training facilities, completely nixing the deal.

Although both parties have launched legal proceedings against each other, it appears Yongge and Couhig have returned to the negotiation table.

It remains to be seen if Couhig can go one better than his last attempt, and finally complete his takeover of Reading.