COLCHESTER United head coach John McGreal admits they may have to be patient in their pursuit of new signings, this summer.

The U’s are yet to add to their first-team squad for the forthcoming League Two season, although Sammie McLeod has linked up with their under-23 squad after arriving from Maldon and Tiptree.

McGreal says they have targets they are hoping to bring to the JobServe Community Stadium, ahead of the new campaign.

However, the U's boss has conceded they may have to bide their time, as they look to bolster their numbers.

McGreal told the Gazette: “We have targets in mind and I think we have to be patient.

“We have one or two in the pipeline that we’re still doing a bit of work on.

“Tony Humes and Robbie Cowling are working hard on things but we won’t be bringing players in for the sake of it and the type of player we bring in is key.

“It’s a bit of a quiet time in the off season but I’m sure that when we start going back for pre-season, it will start to build up.

“There have been a few clubs who have done a bit of business already but there are also a few who have found the same thing.

“We’ve spoken to a few other managers and they’ve found it to be quiet too, as have a few agents.”

Colchester are keen to bring in new faces ahead of the 2019-20 campaign, with the likes of Joel Grant and Dean Gerken linked with a move to the JobServe Community Stadium.

And the departure of Brennan Dickenson, Mikael Mandron and Ryan Gondoh, along with the likely exit of Sammie Szmodics, has made the need for new signings more imperative.

But McGreal said: “We feel that we have a good squad.

“We have the under-23 players who have been training with us since Christmas and some of whom have played their part at first-team level.

“There’s been some speculation about our boys and we’ve lost two good players in Dicko (Brennan Dickenson) and Mika (Mandron).”

Meanwhile, goalkeeper player-coach Rene Gilmartin has been linked with a move to Championship side Bristol City.

The Robins are on the lookout for a new keeper and Gilmartin is due to be out of contract at the U's, this summer.

Colchester’s players are due to return for pre-season testing on June 26.

They are due to play their first pre-season friendly of the summer when they travel to play Bowers and Pitsea, on July 5.