TALENTED Colchester United duo Sammie Szmodics and Frankie Kent are being linked with a move to Peterborough United.

The U's are reported to have accepted a bid for the pair, from the League One club.

Szmodics and Kent are two of Colchester's prized assets, having progressed through the academy ranks at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Szmodics, who is due to see his existing deal at Colchester expire this summer, has already been heavily linked with a move to Championship club Bristol City.

But it appears as though the 23-year-old is now also attracting the interest of Posh, as Darren Ferguson looks to build a squad capable of winning promotion to the second tier.

Fans' favourite Szmodics has made more than 150 league and cup appearances for Colchester, scoring 38 goals, since making his senior debut for them in September, 2013.

The former Stanway School pupil, who has been at the U's since the age of seven, finished the 2018-19 campaign as the club's top scorer last season, with 15 goals.

Kent is also a former Colchester youth-team player who enjoyed an impressive season for John McGreal's side, finishing the campaign as skipper.

The 23-year-old, who has a year remaining on his existing contract, finished the season as the club's Player of the Year.

Kent, a former Arsenal youngster, has made 141 league and cup appearances for Colchester since making his debut for them at Walsall in the final game of the 2013-14 season.

Colchester will undoubtedly be disappointed to lose both Szmodics and Kent, if indeed they do move on this summer.

But chairman Robbie Cowling stated earlier this year the club will eventually have to sell some of their talented players in order for their reputation to continue to flourish.

The U’s have won plenty of admirers over recent years for the way in which they offer youngsters a pathway from their academy into first-team football.

Speaking at the U’s fans forum, Cowling said: “I know people will be disappointed when it happens but we do need to sell some players.

“We’re getting a really good reputation as a club for giving a pathway to youngsters to get in our team.

“But for that to move to the next level, it needs to be seen that they move on and they progress, because then we’ll attract even more boys.

“We may not like it but it’s quite right that all of our players want to progress and go on further than Colchester United.

“That’s how they should be - they should be ambitious and we need to see that happen.

“So don’t get too disappointed when we sell people, because it’s part of the plan really.”