Boro ramp up promotion bush with move for Blackburn striker

Middlesbrough quest for promotion to the Premier League has taken another positive step forward after having an initial £9m bid for Blackburn Rovers striker Jordan Rhodes accepted, reports The Daily Telegraph.

Actor Karaoke had initially been pursuing Fulham striker Ross McCormack but have since turned their attentions to Rhodes after having their advances rejected by the Cottagers.

Boro are currently second in the Championship and one point behind league leaders Hull after losing both of their last two matches. Crucially, however, only one team inside the top eight has scored fewer goals than them this season (37), with their promotion push almost entirely built on their incredible defence, which has only shipped three goals at home all season.

Rhodes, who has been one of the Championship’s best strikers in recent years, is now set for his medical after pulling out of Blackburn’s squad to face Oxford in the FA Cup at the weekend.

In fact, only McCormack (60) has scored more league goals in the Championship over the last three campaigns than Rhodes (56).

For more stats on Jordan Rhodes, click here to visit his WhoScored player page