Cardiff and Wayne Rooney’s Derby eyeing £1.5m Dion Charles transfer from Accrington after impressive goal-scoring season

CARDIFF are one of a number of Championship clubs weighing up a summer bid for Accrington hotshot Dion Charles.

Preston-born Charles, 25, has turned around his career at Stanley after the League One side plucked him from League One Southport two years ago.

Pacemaker

Dion Charles was recently called up by Northern Ireland[/caption]

The striker has been on fire this term, hitting 17 league goals which led to him making his international debut for Northern Ireland in a friendly against the USA last month.

His impressive form has also grabbed the attention of several clubs in the league above, including Mick McCarthy’s Bluebirds.

Huddersfield and Derby are also understood to be monitoring the £1.5million-rated forward’s progress.

Charles started his career at Blackpool but after failing to push his way into the first team left for non-league AFC Fylde and then Fleetwood Town, before joining Southport in 2018.

His debut for Northern Ireland ended in a 2-1 defeat to the USA.

Charles came on in the 60th minute – just after Christian Pulisic had put the USA 2-0 ahead from the penalty spot.

FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

But Northern Ireland did hit back late on through Niall McGinn but it wasn’t enough.

Charles’ 17 goals this term have come in 32 League One appearances.

The left-footer has also picked up two assists playing in the central striker role

Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds