Hull City are the latest club to be linked with a move for Colchester United midfielder Sammie Szmodics, as reported by the Gazette News.

The Tigers are under new management, with Grant McCann leaving Doncaster Rovers at the end of last week to take over at the KCOM Stadium. They're now thought to be keen on attracting 23-year-old Szmodics to Humberside as he prepares to depart the U's.

Szmodics has been linked with moves to Derby County and Bristol City, with his heart seemingly set on a Championship switch. He declined the opportunity to talk to League One Peterborough United this week, despite Posh have a bid accepted for his services.

Whoever does finally get him to put pen to paper will have to pay Colchester a fee as he's currently under the age of 24. He's been with the club since the age of seven and has played virtually all his football for them, with a short loan spell at Braintree his only other senior experience.

Szmodics grabbed 14 goals and seven assists last season as the U's agonisingly missed out on the top seven by a matter of minutes.

Only a late goal in Newport's game with Morecambe prevented them from climbing into the play-offs and setting up a semi-final against Mansfield Town.

The Verdict

Szmodics is a player with huge potential. He's relatively young but has got 162 senior appearances to his name already.

He drives from midfield and can operate out wide or behind the main striker as well. He's clever on the ball, comfortable in possession and is always a threat going forward.

His goals and assists ratio show he's more than competent at League Two level, but he's got his sights set much higher than that.

If he is ambitious, he's got two choices. Both Bristol City and Hull would be likely to offer more regular football, with Derby perhaps a side likely to attract loan players from the top flight in the same position as Szmodics.

If he looks at Jack Marriott's progress there, often shut out despite good form, it might leave Hull in good stead to claim his signature, given Jarrod Bowen's rise to prominence.