Middlesbrough plotting stunning £14m bid for Blackburn striker Jordan Rhodes

Boro hoping to continue impressive summer recruitment with Rhodes capture

Championship promotion favourites Middlesbrough are lining up an improved £14m bid for Blackburn Rovers striker Jordan Rhodes.

Boro have already failed with a £12m offer for the Scotland international, who has scored 73 goals in 134 second-tier appearances, and remain hopeful of completing a deal before the start of the new season.

According to the Daily Mirror, Rovers have been informed they have to make one more sale to have their transfer embargo lifted but plan on keeping Rhodes aid their promotion push this campaign.

Blackburn are in talks over a deal for Cardiff's Adam Le Fondre following the £7m departure of popular striker Rudy Gestede to join Tim Sherwood at Aston Villa.

Rhodes is reportedly also attracting the interest of Sunderland, who look set to sell Connor Wickham to Crystal Palace, but the 25-year-old is believed to be interested to hear what Boro manager Aitor Karanka has to offer.

The North East side suffered play-off heartbreak in May, losing to Norwich City in the final but have strengthened well this summer with Stewart Downing being the most high-profile capture to date.