'Reading fans have some grounds for optimism'

Dai Yongge built a fortune turning underground air raid shelters into shopping malls

Such is the legal, financial, and political complexity of the ongoing Reading sale saga, it would be a more straightforward task trying to summarise the Line of Duty plot, mid-series to a new viewer.

The EFL's latest deadline extension was just the latest development in this long running drama.

"Further progress has been made in respect of the proposed sale", say the EFL.

"The terms of the deal have been agreed between the club's current owner, Dai Yongge, and the buyer," says Reading FC.

These lines could have been cut and pasted from statements last August.

Thousands of fans have staged protests against the club's Chinese owner Dai Yongge.

There are a few noticeable differences this time though. That should give Reading fans some grounds for optimism.

Although nothing has been confirmed, it is understood the buyer is Rob Couhig, who recently told the BBC he still wanted to buy The Royals, even though a deal previously fell through in 2024.

In their statement, the club said the identity of the buyer "must remain confidential at this stage". If it turns out to be anyone other than Couhig that really would be a dramatic plot twist.

The EFL has tried to flex their muscles, disqualifying Yongge from owning Reading, setting deadlines for a sale to happen, and even threatening suspension from the league.

We will never know how key this threat has been, or if it has had any significant impact to Yongge's attitude. Having since nudged the deadline twice, it looks flimsy rather than tough.

The great unknown in this Reading sale has always been Dai Yongge – his motives, his thinking, his character and attitude.

He is an enigma, who stays in the shadows.

Most of us would jump at the chance of selling something for £30m.

'The wildcard'

Maybe he will see sense and sell? If Reading reach the play-offs, could he get a resurgence of interest?

Where is Yongge, and will he finally sign the documents to sell the club, or might he just vanish? Nobody really knows.

Yongge and Couhig fell out when the deal collapsed last summer and as things stand, they are due to meet in court in June.

Just last month Yongge tried to take out an injunction on Couhig at the Commercial Court.

Couhig has litigation plans in the realm of £12m. It seems absurd to think they are still trying to hammer out a deal, with so much bad feeling between them.

The best Reading fans, the EFL and anyone else with skin in the game can hope for is Couhig gets the deal done, and Yongge exits the stage.

The latest deadline extension, and the statements from the EFL and the club, suggest this outcome is getting nearer, but we have all heard that before.

The unpredictability of Yongge continues to be the wildcard, the game changer, the joker in the pack.

If this drama was a mini-series on TV it would be entertaining, if slightly baffling. Sadly for fans the whole fiasco has been gut wrenching and heart breaking.