Exclusive: Lincoln City plot bid to sign Colchester City defender by Monday
Lincoln City are plotting a late bid to sign Colchester United left-back Cohen Bramall before Monday's transfer deadline, Football Insider understands.
The 24-year-old's contract is set to expire in June and the League Two side are open to bids this month rather than face losing him on a free in the summer.
A recruitment source told Football Insider Lincoln are hoping to take advantage of the defender's situation and are readying a bid to secure his capture over the coming days.
As revealed by this site earlier this month, Championship promotion hopefuls Reading are also in the hunt for the exciting full-back.
Bramall has played the full 90 minutes in all but two of Lincoln's 24 League Two matches this season as a minor ankle injury kept him out in December.
He has had an unusual career path so far, playing for the likes of Market Drayton Town, Newcastle Town and Hednesford in non-league before he signed professional terms with Arsenal in 2017.
Arsene Wenger gave a glowing assessment of the Crewe-born defender at the time as he highlighted his "tremendous pace" and called him a "very exciting prospect".
After a spell on loan with Birmingham City, he was released by the Gunners in 2019 and joined Colchester on a free transfer.
Should they be forced into selling the 24-year-old, manager John McGreal will desperately miss Bramall in his backline.
The Essex-based outfit have not won in their last eight outings, a run which stretches back to early December.
Meanwhile, Lincoln are flying high in League One and top the third-tier table after 23 games.
Should the Imps be successful in their pursuit of Bramall, the left-back may well be playing Championship football next season.
Edun Adetayo has been Lincoln's first-choice left-back this season but Bramall's arrival would give the 22-year-old some fierce competition.