Colchester United’s plans to emulate Wrexham success take shape, they’re keen on sought-after free agent

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As Colchester United look to rise through the Football League with their new owners, EFL Analysis can exclusively reveal they have one name in mind to be their first signing as part of the emerging project.

Usually, clubs in League Two fly under the radar, especially when it comes to the summer transfer window. With less money and less appeal, the better players in the EFL are often eager to steer clear of the fourth tier.

But, earlier this month we saw Colchester United taken over by wealthy US owners, sparking the tantalising prospect that we could see another Wrexham in the making.

There’s a long way to go before Colchester can match the achievements of the Red Dragons, but EFL Analysis has exclusive information as to who their first signing might be this summer to get the ball rolling.

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Colchester United battling for Callum Cooke

Thanks to our transfer expert Graeme Bailey, we are told Colchester United are one of the clubs looking to snap up highly-rated midfielder Callum Cooke this summer.

Cooke is coming to the end of his current deal with Morecambe and will enter the market as a free agent.

There are thought to be a number of clubs looking at Cooke, with the 28-year-old also getting the attention of Fleetwood Town and another ambitious club, Newport County.

Cooke is something of a journeyman, having started his career at Middlesbrough as a youngster, where he went for loan spells at Crewe Alexandra and Blackpool. He then joined Bradford City, before moving on to Peterborough and then Hartlepool, and is now reaching his peak years.

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Callum Cooke’s statistics for 2024/25

Cooke has featured 18 times for Morecambe this season in League Two, bagging one goal from his central midfield berth.

Interestingly, he only played the full 90 minutes in two of those games, starting 11 of them. And yet, despite his relative lack of game time, Cooke’s reputation remains strong.

If Colchester are serious about matching the success of Wrexham eventually, they’ll be hoping Cooke can come in and make the kind of impact that the first signings of the Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds era had — Paul Mullin hasn’t done too badly for the Red Dragons, has he?

Speaking of which, Mullin could be on the move this summer, too. The prolific marksman is being eyed up by Wigan Athletic after falling down the pecking order under Phil Parkinson this season.