Aston Villa are attempting to sign Middlesbrough forward Jordan Rhodes.
Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka has refused to be drawn on whether Jordan Rhodes will still be at the Riverside Stadium at the end of the month, as per his comments in the Birmingham Mail.
Aston Villa are thought to be the front runners to sign Rhodes, with Steve Bruce’s side keen on the Scottish international.
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Rhodes has struggled for game time at Boro this term, with Karanka favouring other options in his squad.

Villa feel that Rhodes could be the striker to fire them into the play off places this season, and are attempting to secure a deal before the transfer window closes.
Villa have already had a series of bids for the 26-year-old rejected, with Boro standing by their £10 million asking price for the clinical forward.
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However, the Birmingham Mail believe that Boro are starting to relent, and they now may sanction a loan deal – which could be made permanent in the summer.
And when asked if Rhodes would still be at Boro on February 1st, Karanka was very cryptic with his response.

He said: “I don’t know. And I don’t want to know.
“The club knew my thoughts one month and a half to go.”
Villa have already been very active in the January transfer window – bringing in Sam Johnstone, James Bree, Conor Hourihane and Henri Lansbury.
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