Agent: Elokobi Is Leaving U`s

George Elokobi`s sensational walkout on Colchester United will become a reality in January, with Sky Sports reporting that Celtic, Reading, Crystal Place Charlton and Watford among the interested parties.

The 19-year-old left back, who was dropped due a tactical change earlier this season after playing the first fourteen consecutive games, demanded to leave and now it seems he will get his way.

The one-time terraced idol was brought from non-league football in 2004, and his acceleration to the first time only happened this term - there is a widespread feeling that he is too inexperienced to leave a club where he had only recently established himself as a first-teamer.

His agent Eddie Duah told Sky Sports this morning: "There has been a meeting with the manager - he said he would not stand in his way, subject to an appropriate offer coming in."

The U`s are thought to be looking for around £500,000 for a player who is a dead certainty do don his national team colours of Cameroon in the near future; the Essex club would do well to negotiate a sell-on clause relating to international appurtenances.

Those interested in signing the player also include the U`s rival teams Ipswich and Norwich City.