Aston Villa will have to cough up £12m to sign Jordan Rhodes from Middlesbrough.
A report in the Birmingham Mail claims that that is the price tag that ‘Boro have put on the Championship specialist that they signed from Blackburn in January.
Rhodes scored 17 goals for Blackburn and Middlesboro last season but has barely featured in the Premier League plans of Aitor Karanka.
That won’t put off Steve Bruce from bidding for the Scotland internationalist, last season Bruce had two bids from Hull turned down for Rhodes before Blackburn agreed an initial fee of £9m to take the striker to the Riverside Stadium.
Bruce was promised funds when he took charge of Villa and believes that Rhodes can get the goals to at least ensure a play-off spot but hopefully automatic promotion.
The 26-year-old has over 150 league goals to his name, striking at a rate better than a goal every two matches.