Rendell has been prolific since joining from Crawley last summer

Rendell, 21, who has scored 22 goals this season, put in a transfer request after the U's snubbed a six-figure bid.

"We don't keep players who are unhappy and don't want to play for the club," said Cambridge director George Rolls.

"We're shocked he wants to leave us, bearing in mind we believe we can give him league football at the end of the season. We didn't want him to leave."