Boro will allow Rhodes to leave the club in Janaury, and Celtic have joined an eight-club race.
Celtic have reportedly become the latest club to join the race to sign Middlesbrough outcast Jordan Rhodes, according to a report from the Daily Mail.
Rhodes joined Boro in January 2015 on the back of the strength of his phenomenal scoring record in the Championship for Blackburn Rovers, for whom he hit 83 goals in 159 league games across three-and-a-half seasons.
However, after netting six times for the Teessiders in the second half of last season, he has barely featured since their promotion to the Prmeier League, making just one start and three second-half substitute appearances so far this term.
That had led to speculation that he may be allowed to leave the club next month just a year after joining for £9 million.
That was effectively confirmed by manager Aitor Karanka this week, who said: “Jordan a player in this squad but if he wants to leave, if we receive the right offer from a club that wants to buy him, and we are happy with the deal, then fine.”
Clubs such as Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa have already been reported as interested in the striker’s signature, and now the Mail reports that Celtic are amongst a host of other clubs looking to move for the 26-year-old.
The Bhoys, of course, already have 17-goal (at the time of writing) sensation Moussa Dembele and Rhodes’ fellow Scotland striker Leigh Griffiths to call upon up top.
However, they could look to add one more high-class striker to ensure that their firepower is comfortably the strongest in the Scottish Premiership.
Rhodes will be starved of action, and if he chooses to leave the Riverside next month, linking up with several of his international teammates and compatriots could be a tantalising prospect.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
