Reading Join Elokobi Race?

Colchester United could face another battle with Reading for one of their home-grown stars.

According to yesterday`s Daily Star Sunday, 21-year-old left-back George Elokobi, also said to be wanted by Celtic and Southampton, is on Steve Coppell`s January shopping-list.

Elokobi, it is well known, will use this season to cement his place with Colchester and has gone on record as saying he would like to play international football for his native Cameroon.

Earlier this month, it was reported by Sky Sports News that the full-back would seek to extend his current Colchester contract after interest from “a Premiership club.”

If that is Reading, as the Star suggests, then Coppell has clearly not be soured by his last Essex experience in the transfer market, which involved taking Greg Halford, now with Sunderland, to the Madejski.

U`s fans with be hoping that Elokobi, in his first season as first-choice, decides to perfect his trade before considering a transfer.