Blackburn Rovers striker Jordan Rhodes has been linked with both Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest.
Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka has said that he is not interested in signing Jordan Rhodes from Blackburn Rovers, according to quotes published on the club’s official Twitter page.
The future of the 25-year-old striker has come under speculation in recent days, with The Gazette reporting on Wednesday that Boro were in pole position to sign him.
Earlier in the week, The Sun claimed that Nottingham Forest manager Dougie Freedman wants to sign Rhodes, with the Reds open to recruiting him on loan until the end of the season.
Karanka has now ruled Middlesbrough out of the running for the signature of Rhodes, dismissing it as mere “speculation”.
Karanka’s comments make it clear that he is not interested in the striker who has scored 14 goals in 35 Championship games so far this season.
Rhodes has also created 31 chances in those matches, while having a pass accuracy of 74% and a shot accuracy of 44%.
Middlesbrough boss Karanka’s remarks pave the way for Forest to make a move for Rhodes, if indeed Freedman is interested in the former Ipswich Town player.
However, it will not be easy to prise the player away from Blackburn, as Rovers manager Gary Bowyer has told BBC Radio Lancashire that he has no plans to sell him.
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