Championship side Aston Villa have reportedly reached a breakthrough in their pursuit of Middlesbrough striker Jordan Rhodes. The latest report from Birmingham Mail claims that the 26-year-old seems to be inching closer to an exit from the Boro with Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford look set to replace him at the club.
Rhodes is currently behind Alvaro Negredo and former Villa forward Rudy Gestede in the pecking order at the Boro, and the report claims that manager Aitor Karanka was not keen on letting him leave without signing his replacement.
Bamford, who enjoyed a successful loan spell at the Boro during the 2014-15 season, has recently been recalled by Chelsea from his loan spell at Burnley. He could manage only 34 minutes of football in six substitute appearances for the Clarets in the first half of the season.
The Boro value Rhodes at £10m and are not keen on letting him leave on a loan move, so Aston Villa would need to offer a transfer bid that size to lure Rhodes away from the Boro.
