Barker Move Looks Unlikely

Colchester United fans are worried that their club`s attempts to sign Chris Barker may be thwarted after the Welsh outfit put him on the transfer list this week.

It is thought that Barker, who said "he will be waiting by the phone" for a call from Colchester, would be let go for around £100,000 thus leaving the Ninian Park outfit for a lot less than the £650,000 they paid to tempt him from Barnsley.

This would still be asking a lot of the U`s, whose limited transfer budget seems to stretch to virtually nothing.

The left back was a great asset to the side last season as they shot up the Championship table, finishing Barker`s old employers overall in 10th.

Seemingly the only hope Colchester have of landing Barker without a fee, after talks apparently broke down between the Essex side and Cardiff in January, is if nobody bids for the Englishman and his current side agree to cancel his contract by mutual consent.

Given his fantastically consistent performances last term, this seems unlikely to happen.

As manager Geraint Williams told the East Anglian Daily Times today: "We tried to sign Chris (Barker) on a permanent contract during the transfer window in January, and we will be trying to do the same this summer.

"Chris was a key member of the squad, as was Hogan (Ephraim). I would like to have both back for next season."

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