The Middlesbrough striker is said to be a long-term target for Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce.
Aston Villa will bid for Jordan Rhodes in January, according to the Telegraph.
However, the Villans will need to overcome a couple of obstacles if they are to prise the Middlesbrough striker away from the Riverside.
It is claimed that Boro are keen to recoup the £11 million they paid for Rhodes a year ago, however, Villa are not said to value the 26-year-old at that price – despite him being a long-term target for manager Steve Bruce – and are hoping to negotiate.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce
According to the Telegraph, Bruce has also been informed there will not be a huge amount of money available next month, although the rumoured sale of Rudy Gestede to Middlesbrough is likely to boost Villa’s coffers by a reported £6.5 million.
And Villa could raise further funds by selling another of their abundant attacking pool, with the Sun claiming interest from Shanghai SIPG in Jordan Ayew.
Another potential hurdle – Boro’s alleged reluctance to sell both Rhodes and David Nugent without another striker coming in – could also be scaled by Gestede’s transfer, however, Nugent is said to have attracted interest from Championship clubs himself, notably Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday.
Villa remain the favourites to sign Rhodes in January, with bookmaker SkyBet offering odds of 4/5 on Bruce’s side.
Middlesbrough striker Jordan Rhodes
Wednesday are next on the list at 2/1, with Burnley (14/1) and Leeds (16/1) both considered outsiders.
Can Aston Villa overcome the above hurdles to sign Rhodes next month?
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