DMITRI Halajko admits Colchester United transfer deadline day could go right down to the wire – both for arrivals and departures.

The U’s are aiming to bring in several new signings before the window slams shut at 11pm tonight.

A new centre-back and central midfielder are top of Ben Garner’s list as he aims to boost his squad before the window closes.

READ MORE: Nico Lawrence set for long spell on sidelines after ankle injury

And there is also a possibility of departures, with talented wing-back Junior Tchamadeu still linked with a move away from Colchester.

U’s sporting director Halajko says the club are prepared for the prospect of a busy day of dealings.

He said: “I think we’ll be open for business right until the last hour.

Gazette:

“There’s been windows previously where we haven’t been and we’ve got to the last day of the window or last couple of hours and we know that there’s not much looking to leave the building at that point and there’s not much capacity to bring into the building, at that point.

“But I expect us to be opening for business and taking calls for incoming players and outgoing players right until the late hours of the final day.

“Whether it turns into anything permanent either way, you never know.

“There’s plenty of calls happening at the moment, at this time of year and turning them into actual permanent signings is the next bit and that takes a bit longer.”

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Colchester’s desire to bring in new faces has become more urgent following the injuries suffered to Nico Lawrence, Tom Dallison and Ellis Iandolo.

Lawrence is set for several months on the sidelines, after suffering ankle ligament damage in the 3-0 win at Gillingham, last weekend.

Halajko said: “We’re certainly active in the market and trying to get the right fit.

“The injuries that we’ve suffered over the last three or four weeks has meant we’ve had to speed things up.

Gazette:

“Nico is going to be long term, Dallo is going to be out for a little while and Ellis is going to be reasonably long term as well.

“That’s three spots which we’d thought we’ve covered off, with two of them being new signings.

“We thought we had cover but now all of a sudden, certainly in the medium term, those spots aren’t covered off.

“Those injuries have certainly made us go back in and do some more.

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“We’ve definitely done our preparation and that’s really important when it becomes really time precious, like it is now.

“We feel we can be flexible and agile, because of the work that’s been done over a period of time.

“We feel we can make quick decisions and move quickly through the market, if the opportunities arise because of the work that’s been put in place by our Head of Recruitment (Ross Embleton) and our scouts.

“We feel we’re in a position to move, should something come up that suits us.”