Accrington Stanley owner Andy Holt has poured cold water over reports that Bristol City are in talks with star striker Dion Charles over a summer switch.
Sky Sports News have stated that City are "in talks" with the 25-year-old with Nigel Pearson viewing the Northern Ireland international similar in style to Jamie Vardy, who he brought to Leicester from Fleetwood Town in 2012 and helped fire the Foxes to Championship promotion and into the Premier League.
The report also claimed that Championship rivals Nottingham Forest and Barnsley are also interested in the forward. However, Accrington owner Andy Holt tweeted, "news to me" when asked to comment.
Charles, who is under contract until 2022 and valued at around £700,000, scored 20 goals in 45 appearances across all competitions for Accrington last season, including a hat-trick against Bristol Rovers in a 6-1 demolition in February.
It was only his second full season in League One having spent his previous six seasons predominantly in the National League North with Southport, Halifax Town and AFC Fylde.
However, that also replicates Vardy's situation whose three campaigns prior to his Leicester move were in non-league with Fleetwood and, coincidentally, Halifax Town.
Pearson has started all four of City's Championship fixtures with Chris Martin as his targetman in a 4-2-3-1 with his other frontline striker Nahki Wells left with cameos off the bench.
The Robins lost Famara Diedhiou over the summer after the Senegalese was unable to agree a new contract and Pearson admitted in June he wanted a new striker.
However, he has also conceded that he may have to sell first before he can buy, plus reduce the overall wage bill, which raises the possibility that other players could follow Adam Nagy out of the club to help raise transfer revenue.
A report by the Sunday Mirror's Darren Witcoop claimed over the weekend that City were open to offers for Wells, providing a replacement could be found.
The Robins have been linked with Brazilian forward Andre Silva at Arouca in Portugal but Bristol Live understands that City's interest at this moment in time is simply just that, rather than the likelihood of a bid in this window.
With Martin as his only traditional No9-type first-team striker, capable of playing in that solitary role at the top of his preferred 4-2-3-1, another forward in that mould to replace Diedhiou, looks the more likely addition.
