Colchester United manager John Ward has played down rumours linking them with Ipswich Town starlet Callum Bennett.

The U’s were rumoured to be keeping tabs on the young right-back, who has turned down the offer of a one-year deal at Portman Road.

Bennett, 19, is regarded as a promising young prospect by Ipswich and talks are on-going between him and the Championship club.

He was one of only two current second-year scholars to be offered professional terms by Town.

But Ipswich boss Paul Jewell recently revealed there is reported interest from “a couple of League One clubs” in the teenager, with the U's League One rivals Sheffield Wednesday also linked.

Colchester have a good relationship with Town and signed Tom Eastman from their Suffolk neighbours, last summer.

But U’s boss Ward confirmed to the Gazette that no approach has been made for the promising defender.

Ward said: “We haven’t approached anyone about Callum Bennett.

“I’m always in contact with other managers and football clubs about things.

“I’ve spent the last couple of days going out to watch football but no approaches have been made to anyone, as yet.

“I don’t expect to do that yet and I think potential loan signings are more likely to made around the time we start pre-season training.”

See Thursday's Gazette for more on this story and all of the latest Colchester United news, including Karl Duguid's exclusive weekly Gazette column.