Supporters of Reading Football Club have been left frustrated for the second summer running due to the negligent ownership under Dai Yongge and the lack of progress on a much-needed takeover.

With players returning for pre-season training tomorrow, the club are at risk of being left underprepared for yet another campaign with financial issues holding the club back.

Northampton Town are the only other third-tier outfit yet to make a signing this summer, but this should come as no surprise to Royals supporters.

In the last five seasons, the earliest official deal was Tom Ince arriving permanently on June 21 2022.

However, this must come with the caveat of him having been on loan since January, out of contract that summer and working under the management of his father, Paul.

Take a look below at the opening signing from the last five seasons, and when they officially went through.

2019/20: Joao Virginia, July 11 2019

No players arrived, on loan or permanent deals, in June 2019. 

Four arrived in July, the first of which was young goalkeeper Virginia on loan from Everton.

Making just three appearances for the club, conceding six goals and losing each game, the 24-year-old was recalled early.

He has gone on to play six times for the Toffees but spent 2021/22 and 2022/23 on loan in Portugal and Holland.

2020/21: Josh Laurent, July 28 2020

A slight anomaly, due to the late restart of English football after the COVID-19 break, the summer window did not open until July 27.

Having been keen on the Shrewsbury Town midfielder for a long time, the club wasted no time in announcing Laurent.

In typical Reading fashion, nothing was straightforward and despite former boss Mark Bowen chasing the current Stoke City captain, he was replaced by Serbian Veljko Paunovic before the former Wales defender had a chance to work with Laurent.

A popular player in his two years in Berkshire, the combative midfielder was joined by four other signings before the deadline and Paunovic took the club to seventh.

2021/22: Tom Dele-Bashiru, August 12 2021

The latest Reading have ever started their business, Dele-Bashiru secured a temporary switch from Watford in time for the third Championship fixture of the campaign.

Five others followed in the final month of the window and the midfielder netted four goals in 38 appearances for the club as they battled to stay up in the Championship.

New territory for Reading, it was the first year in which the club were hit with EFL sanctions- something which has since become the norm.

2022/23: Tom Ince, June 21 2022

EFL veteran Ince had impressed during a short-term loan with the club, scoring twice in 15 appearances, as he helped keep the team up.

His father wasted no time in tying him down to a new deal, with the midfielder picking up Player of the Season as the Royals were relegated after suffering more EFL sanctions.

A whole host of players arrived in a busy summer but the pool of free agents and loan signings available to the club made survival in the Championship very difficult, and ultimately beyond the squad.

2023/24: Harvey Knibbs, July 13 2023

Last summer was one of constant discontent due to Yongge's waning interest and apparent lack of funds.

Hit with embargoes and winding-up petitions as bills went unpaid, it took months for the club to be able to get active in the free agent and loan market.

Despite this, inspired signings such as Knibbs, Sam Smith and Lewis Wing were made before a ball was kicked- although there were real fears that none would be registered in time to feature against Peterborough.

With five days remaining in June, it looks likely that July will be the earliest the Royals can make their window moves unless progress is made in the ownership saga.