Reading FC latest: Takeover update, Harlee Dean admission, Michael Olise windfall | OneFootball

News has emerged on takeover, a player's future and a much-needed windfall at the Select Car Leasing Stadium in recent days.

Reading will be hoping that a takeover deal can be sorted out as quickly as possible, with the new season just weeks away.

The Royals face a very difficult set of fixtures during the early stages of the 2024/25 campaign, starting with an away clash against Birmingham City.

Chris Davies may be in the process of a small rebuild at St Andrew's, but on paper, they have some players who can dominate in League One and there's still more than four weeks for them to make some new additions.

This reinforces the need for the Royals to be as strong as possible heading into the new season, but they will only have a real chance of being prepared if their ownership situation is sorted out.

There are many areas that they need to strengthen in the coming weeks, including their left-back department and their central defence, following the departures of Nelson Abbey, Tom Holmes, Tom McIntyre and former loanee Zane Monlouis during the early stages of 2024.

The winger and striker departments also need to be looked at before the campaign starts, but whether signings will be made before then remains to be seen, with a sale yet to be completed.

There has been some takeover news in recent days though - and this has been included as part of our Royals news round-up below.

Rob Couhig closing in on Reading FC takeover

American businessman Rob Couhig seal a takeover of the Royals in the next couple of weeks, according to a report from The Telegraph.

The same report has revealed that a deal has now been struck between Couhig and current owner Dai Yongge, who has overseen a period of major turbulence in Berkshire in the past year.

Representatives from Couhig's party were thought to be at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Monday and the sale is now in its "final stages".

He is likely to pass EFL checks, having previously been Wycombe Wanderers' owner before he sold the club earlier in the summer.

Harlee Dean's admission on Reading FC future

Harlee Dean has hinted that he may leave the Berkshire side this summer, speaking to the Keep Right On podcast.

Asked whether he was looking forward to playing 40+ games in League One during the 2024/25 campaign, he said: "Well I mean it may not be Reading, it may be somewhere else."

At the moment, the Royals don't have many options at centre-back, with Abbey, Holmes, McIntyre, Monlouis and Sam Hutchinson all leaving this calendar year.

With no signings coming in this summer, it would be difficult to see him leave before signings are made, even though current first-teamers Tyler Bindon and Amadou Mbengue are likely to start ahead of him next term.

The Royals are set to secure 10% of the profit that Crystal Palace have made after selling Michael Olise to Bayern Munich.

This sell-on clause could prove to be crucial with a new owner not yet in place at the SCL Stadium.

Having sold the player for just £8m, the Royals have compensated by including this sell-on clause, with the Frenchman reportedly moving to Bayern for more than £50m.

That should mean that the Berkshire side make at least £4m from his move to the German giants.