COLCHESTER United could well have their sights set on Wycombe Wanderers defender, Mike Williamson, when the transfer window reopens in January.

Carl Marston

Colchester soccer

By Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United could well have their sights set on Wycombe Wanderers defender, Mike Williamson, when the transfer window reopens in January.

Williamson was a reliable centre-half during current U's boss Paul Lambert's tenure as manager of Wycombe, and it is believed that an initial bid of around £100,000 from the U's was recently rejected by the Buckinghamshire club. No transfers can be completed until the start of January.

Strengthening the defence has been Lambert's priority over the last couple of weeks, and to that end he signed keeper Jimmy Walker and left-back Marc Tierney on loan on transfer deadline day last Thursday.

Now it looks as though Williamson could also be a candidate for a switch to the Community Stadium in the near year.

The Stoke-born central defender, who stands at 6ft 3ins, began his career at Torquay before Southampton signed him in a £100,000 package in 2001.

The 25-year-old never actually made a first-team appearance for the Saints, and he finally moved to Wycombe on a free transfer during the summer of 2004.

Despite being sidelined with a cruciate knee ligament injury for 12-month period, Williamson has already played 162 senior games for the Chairboys. He returned from the long-term injury last February and captained the side as they reached the League Two play-offs in May.

Williamson is dominant in the air and is always a threat from set pieces - he has so far scored 12 goals for Wycombe. Peter Taylor's men currently top League Two, with an unbeaten record, and have only conceded eight goals in 17 league games.

Williamson missed Saturday's humiliating FA Cup defeat (2-0) at non-league Eastwood Town due to illness.