in the know

MIDDLESBROUGH are battling to complete the loan signing of Blackburn Rovers Scottish international striker Jordan Rhodes.

Boro hope to do a deal which will see Rhodes move to the Riverside Stadium on loan for the rest of the season. They would then have an option to buy him for around £8m if they are successful in making it to the Premier League.

Boro are willing to pick up all of Rhodes’ £40,000 a week wages as they see the 25-year-old as the final piece in their promotion jigsaw.

Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka is remaining tightlipped in public but behind the scenes club officials are working hard to make sure the deal happens.

Rovers refused £12m from Hull for Rhodes last summer but now appear to be willing to do business. They were waiting for the outcome of their FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool and, even though they face a replay, a deal is on the cards.

Boro’s promotion rivals, Derby and Norwich, are also interested in Rhodes, who only extended his contract until 2019 last summer.

Rhodes, who took his tally for the season to 14 with a late winner against Bolton in midweek, is thought to be keen on joining Boro ahead of Derby and Norwich.

But Blackburn boss Gary Bowyer would be fuming if he lost Rhodes.

“People will always try and do what they want to do and go about it in different ways but it just does not add up,” he said. “Why would we want to do that? It’s not a charity case we are running here.” BOLTON have spoken to Manchester United about keeping on-loan winger Saidy Janko at the club for the whole of next season.

The 19-year-old Switzerland U20 international has been a big hit at Bolton since joining on loan until the end of the season and boss Neil Lennon is hoping to keep him longer. IPSWICH boss Mick McCarthy wants to bring in Wigan duo James McClean and Martyn Waghorn on loan.

McCarthy hopes Republic of Ireland winger McClean and ex-Leicester striker Waghorn, both 25, will boost his side’s play-off bid.

The former Republic of Ireland boss is believed to have been told by the Championship strugglers that the pair are available to leave the DW Stadium.