Feyenoord received a bid for Read on Thursday which, according to well-connected outlet Feyenoord Transfermarkt, was worth €25m, but the Rotterdam club turned it down immediately. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported the Nottingham Forest offer was actually worth €17.5m, and expects the Premier League club to return with an improved proposal.
Feyenoord appear to be holding out for considerably more, with Gouka suggesting the club wants closer to €30m.
"They're taking a hard line, but a deal is possible," he said. "Robert Eenhoorn and Devy Rigaux operate a strict policy: maximising transfer income rather than cashing in early."
Gouka added that Feyenoord are braced for an improved bid from Forest.
"If an offer comes in around €25m to €30m, Feyenoord will likely be forced to sell him," he said.
Read had appeared to be heading for the exit this summer regardless, though he said earlier this week that he was keeping all his options open — something Gouka acknowledged too.
"Read is certainly open to a transfer," he said.
The 20-year-old has long attracted interest from clubs outside the Netherlands. Paris FC made a move for him last winter, reportedly bidding more than €20m, but Read opted to extend his stay at Feyenoord at the time. Bayern Munich and Manchester City have also appeared to be in the market for the talented defender, though it remains unclear how concrete that interest currently is.
Read's contract runs until 2029 after an extension last year, giving Feyenoord little urgency to sell even with Forest's interest confirmed as concrete. He arrived on a free transfer from FC Volendam in 2023 before establishing himself as a first-team regular, and Feyenoord's leadership under new technical director Rigaux has made clear they intend to squeeze maximum value out of any departure rather than accept an offer simply to bank early funds.
For Forest, who overhauled their transfer strategy after a record sale of their own this summer, Read represents a rare chance to add defensive stability and attacking threat down the right flank in one deal, provided they meet Feyenoord's asking price.