In the midst of a breakthrough season with Livingston in the Scottish Premiership, the uncapped 24-year-old from the Gold Coast has attracted covetous glances from the likes of Middlesbrough, Cardiff, Swansea, Bristol City, Blackburn and Derby.
The Championship is already home to Socceroos Massimo Luongo, Jackson Irvine and Bailey Wright and Dykes isn’t shy enunciating his aspirations to join them.
“The Championship is a really good league ... I think it’s very underrated,” he said.
“Everybody talks up to the Premier League as debatably one of the best, if not the best in the world, and when EPL clubs drop down to the Championship they often struggle to get back up.
“That tells you how strong it is. There’s a good bunch of teams in that league who could probably hold their own in the Premier League, and teams that go up often do really well.
“I’m obviously trying to get to the best level possible in my career and if something came up in the Championship it would be hard to ever say no to that.”
Held back by a niggling ankle injury over the last seven weeks, Dykes - who is eligible for both Australia and Scotland- has still managed five goals in 14 games in all competitions for the club he joined from Queen of the South in January.
His most recent strike came in last month’s shock 2-0 win over Celtic, with the chance to place himself back on the show-room floor again on Sunday (AEDT) as Livi this time travel to Parkhead to face the league leaders.
“I’m aware of the interest ... there’s been five or six Championship clubs apparently looking and sending scouts and stuff,” he added.
“I don’t pay too much attention to that to be honest, although it shows I’m doing something right if there are clubs watching me.
“It doesn’t put me off or anything and I know that I’ll need to keep performing well for there to be any genuine offers ever put on the table.”
With three years remaining on his contract at Livi, Dykes is grateful to the club for “taking a gamble on him”.
“I couldn’t be more happy here with the way everyone at the club has taken to me and helped me,” he said.
“Hopefully we are helping each other out in the sense that if I ever got a move they would make some good money along the way.”
Dykes is hoping to make the acquaintance of Socceroos midfielder Tom Rogic this weekend, after his absence from the October clash.
“He wasn’t in the squad the last time we played them and I know he’s had a few injuries here and there,” he said.
“Hopefully we came up against each other and I’ll get to say hello - even though he probably won’t know who I am!
“It’s going to be hard for us at Parkhead ... they have players who can create something from nothing and will be looking to show the last result was a one-off.
“We won’t be able to afford any mistakes and will have to be very wary.”
Dykes is being monitored by Socceroos coach Graham Arnold and acknowledges he’s still a work in progress.
“It was bad timing with my ankle injury coming before the international break (in terms of a potential call-up),” he said.
“I’ve missed a few games lately and when I’ve payed I’ve been forcing it a bit (with the injury).
“I think I’m getting over it now and just need to get my head down and keep working hard doing what I’m doing.
“I haven’t been training as much as I would’ve liked and I need to make sure I get my sharpness back up to scratch.
“Even if I’m not scoring goals I want to bring a lot of other stuff to the table.
“Hopefully in the future something like that (a Socceroos call) pops up for me.
“I’d love to get the chance and if it comes I’ll take it with both hands.”
