Colchester United are hoping to close in on the signing of Alex Wynter this week.

The Crystal Palace youngster impressed during his recent loan spell with the U’s, helping them stave off the threat of relegation.

Wynter’s existing contract at Selhurst Park is due to expire and he is waiting to hear whether or not the Premier League side want to keep him beyond this summer.

Joe Dunne has already made contact with the defender’s representatives.

And now the U’s boss plans to speak to his Palace counterpart Tony Pulis about the possibility of Wynter returning to the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Dunne said: “We’ve spoken to his representative at Palace and I’ll speak to Tony (Pulis) over the next couple of days.

“Alex is someone I’d like to bring to the club and everybody knows that.

“I hope that we’ll have some news on that in the next couple of days.”

For more on this story and all of the latest U's news, including the final Duguid's Diary of the season, see Thursday's Gazette.