Colchester United are believed to be leading the chase to sign Cheltenham Town midfielder Harry Pell this summer.

Reports in Gloucestershire suggest that the U’s would like to bolster their midfield options by snapping up the tall 26-year-old, in time for the 2018-19 campaign.

The U’s have had plenty of first-hand experience of playing against Pell, over the last two years.

Pell impressed in Cheltenham’s 3-1 home win over the U’s from last September, although he did not feature in the Robins’ 4-1 win at the Community Stadium.

Tilbury-born Pell did play in Cheltenham’s visit to Colchester the previous season (2-0 defeat), but he does not have happy memories of the fixture between the two clubs at Whaddon Road from that season - he was sent off in the 87th minute of a 3-1 defeat (November, 2016).

Pell has always been plagued by a poor disiplinary record. He has been booked 11 times this season, and was shown the yellow card 16 times the previous season, in addition to his red card against the U’s.

For the U’s to land their target, they will have to pay a fee, because Pell has another year left on his contract with the Robins.

The popular Pell, who stands at 6ft 5ins, was on the point of leaving Cheltenham to join Blackpool at the start of last season, for a fee of around £200,000, although that move broke down due to a failure to agree personal terms.

Pell has been a regular in mid-table Cheltenham’s side this term, netting six goals in 41 appearances, in all competitions.

He has formerly been on the books of Charlton, Bristol Rovers. Hereford, AFC Wimbledon and Eastleigh.