Colchester United defender Junior Tchamadeu has vowed to focus on helping his team-mates amid speculation about his future, reports the Colchester Gazette.
The 19-year-old has been subject to strong interest from Championship clubs Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers, as the youngster looks set for a move away from JobServe Community Stadium.
It was reported the teenager handed in a transfer request following a bid from Stoke, however, the League Two Young Player of the Year has remained at the U’s as the 2023/24 campaign has got underway.
A deal in the region of £1 million from the Potters was turned down in July, as the Essex-based side would like the guaranteed portion of the money to be higher.
Colchester have already knocked back a ‘substantial offer’ from an unnamed second-tier club in January, as interest in the Barking-born defender continues to rise.
The former Charlton Athletic youth player has become a key player in Ben Garner’s side, appearing 41 times in the league last season as the U’s finished 20th in League Two.
Tchamadeu has been ever-present at the start of this season too, appearing in both wing-back roles in defeats to Cardiff City in the Carabao Cup and Bradford City in League Two.
With less than three weeks to go until deadline day, the in-demand defender remains focused on the task at hand.
What’s been said?
“There’s always going to be speculation going on,” Tchamadeu said.
“I’m in a position where I’ve just got to keep my head down and focus on my job, which is to help the team and everything else just takes care of itself.
“It’s just the mentality I’ve had since hearing about these things.
“The fact of the matter is I’m only here to keep working hard and help my team-mates.”
Writer’s View
The speculation around the future of the talented teenager has dragged on for many weeks now, and it doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon.
It would be fair to say that Tchamadeu has earned the right to a move higher up the pyramid, but Colchester will be desperate not to lose their key prospect.
His contract expires next summer which could force their hand, and with Ben Garner mainly operating in the loan market this window, the windfall could free up some much needed funds to improve the squad.
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