COLCHESTER United are believed to be interested in signing young attacker James Tilley on loan from Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion.

The 20-year-old is thought to be on the radar of the U’s as they look to bolster their squad ahead of the new season.

Tilley is currently on a six-month loan at Cork City having joined them in January and is still playing for them this summer, in the League of Ireland.

But Colchester are believed to be looking to seal a deal to bring the speedy youngster to the JobServe Community Stadium on loan in time for the start of the 2019-20 campaign.

U’s head coach John McGreal is looking for new faces for his squad especially in the attacking areas, with Mikael Mandron, Brennan Dickenson and Ryan Gondoh all having left the League Two club last month and Sammie Szmodics also linked with a move away, this summer.

Colchester have also been linked with a move for Plymouth Argyle midfielder Joel Grant, who is out of contract at Home Park and is yet to sign a new deal with the Pilgrims.

Tilley, who has been at Brighton since the age of 12, is rated as an exciting prospect who can both score and create goals.

He has made three first-team appearances for the Seagulls, scoring his first senior goal for them when he netted in their 1-0 win over Barnet in the EFL Cup in August, 2017.

Tilley has also featured in EFL Trophy games for Brighton’s under-23s.

Brighton appointed Graham Potter as Chris Hughton’s successor last month and the former Swansea City boss is currently planning for his first season in charge of the Premier League club.