Colin Kazim-Richards, Martyn Waghorn, Lee Gregory, Louie Sibley, Tom Lawrence, Kamil Jozwiak, Graeme Shinnie; add their goal tally for 2020/21 together and they have still scored less than Derby County’s alleged summer target.
The Sun reported earlier in April that Wayne Rooney’s relegation-threatened Rams are keen to strike a £1.5 million deal for Accrington Stanley’s late-blooming striker Dion Charles.
And it is not hard to figure out why.
While dull Derby have found the net just 31 times in 43 Championship matches this term – the lowest tally in the Championship – Charles is in the form of his life for League One surprise stars Accrington.
Accrington Stanley, we hear you ask? Who are they? Well, a competitive third-tier outfit is the answer to that time-old poser; a genuine promotion challenger until very recently.
Accrington’s Jekyll and Hide nature means those Championship dreams have died a death for now, but at least Charles is ensuring that a promising campaign can end with the consolation of a top ten finish.
The newly-capped Northern Ireland international took his seasonal total to 20 in midweek, firing home two dead-eyed penalties in Accrington’s 2-1 victory over Doncaster Rovers.
The last time Charles was so prolific, he was a youngster making his name at AFC Fylde in non-league.
“My goal at the start of the season was 20 goals and I’ve finally done it,” Charles told the BBC.
“It’s incredible as well as getting an international call-up. This season has just gone so quick.”
The Sun reports that Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City are also keen to hand Charles his chance in the Championship.
But, if Derby want to avoid a repeat of this godforsaken campaign, they will make sure Pride Park is Charles’ destination.
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