COLCHESTER United have been linked with a loan move for West Ham United's highly-rated striker Callum Marshall.

The U's are interested in signing the 19-year-old forward, according to reports in the Belfast Telegraph.

Marshall is yet to make his senior debut for West Ham but has already played three times for the Northern Ireland senior team, having also represented their under-21, under-19 and under-18 teams.

The Glengormley-born youngster, who can play both as a striker and a winger, joined West Ham in January, 2022 and was a member of their FA Youth Cup-winning team, last season.

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Marshall, who signed his first professional contract in November 2022, has been a regular for the Hammers' under-21 side this season and impressed in their 4-0 win at Colchester United in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy game at the JobServe Community Stadium, at the start of last month.

The 5ft 8in striker is a player who U's sporting director Dmitri Halajko will be aware of from his West Ham connections following his spell as the club's under-23 boss, at the London Stadium.

Gazette: Callum Marshall

The Belfast Telegraph has also reported that West Ham are preparing to hold contract talks with Marshall, ahead of a possible January loan move.

Marshall’s existing deal with the Hammers runs until the end of the 2024-05 season.

Colchester are set to reinforce their forward options, following the news that top goalscorer Joe Taylor is to be recalled by his parent club Luton Town.

The U's are hoping to complete a deal for a new striker this week, with a view to them being involved in their League Two trip to play Swindon Town, on Saturday.

Taylor will be a tough act to follow, after the former Peterborough United striker hit 12 goals in the first half of the campaign for Colchester despite their struggles in the bottom end of the table.