COLCHESTER United could add to their squad in this month’s transfer window after Aaron Collins’ departure generated some spending money.

Collins’ season-long loan from Premier League outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers was terminated by mutual consent yesterday, creating some extra cash for boss John McGreal to bring in at least one new face.

Colchester chairman Robbie Cowling stated last month that at that stage, there was no available budget to bring in new signings in January.

However, Collins’ exit means that the U’s are now stepping up the chase for their targets and could bring in reinforcements, for the second half of the League Two campaign.

Colchester have been linked with the likes of Yeovil Town winger Wes McDonald and Adil Nabi of Dundee, over recent weeks.

McGreal said: “Aaron going back (to Wolves) frees up a bit of money.

“There is money there for us now that Aaron has gone back to see what we can try and do.

“I did say a number of weeks back that for us to generate money (in the transfer window) we’d have to move players out or if players weren’t happy, maybe they would look for moves themselves and that’s still the case.

“Nothing has moved on that and we’ll need a little bit of patience in a way but we’re doing all our homework behind the scenes, just in case.

“Aaron was on the peripheral a little bit.

“He started our first game of the season at Notts County but we then adapted the shape from a three to a four and the individual performances of the likes of Frank Nouble, Courtney Senior and Sammie Szmodics throughout the season have been really high and made it tough for him to get in.”

Collins started Colchester's opening game of the season, the 0-0 draw with Notts County.

But the former Newport County youngster failed to make any further league starts for the U's after that.

Of the 21-year-old’s four starts that followed, three of them came in the Checkatrade Trophy with the other coming in the EFL Cup against Cheltenham Town.

Collins also made a further six appearances as substitute for John McGreal's side but has now gone back to Wolves.

He tweeted today: ‘Great club and a top bunch of lads, wishing them all the best for the rest of the season’.