Boro's mooted move for Blackburn goal-getter Jordan Rhodes is being weighed up in India.
The club has made a bid to take the prolific striker on loan until the end of the season with a view to buying him for a fixed fee should they get promoted.
Boro have dominated games but stuttered in front of goal of late and club chiefs believe the £10m rated striker - who has banged in 66 goals in 131 games for Rovers - can give them the edge in the promotion run in.
Rovers boss Gary Bowyer is not keen and started the striker in last night’s clash with Bolton where he scored a stoppage time winner.
“We’ve got 11 league games left and an FA Cup quarter-final replay, with a visit to Wembley if we are successful so why we would be letting him go at this stage is beyond me,” he said,.
Action Images / Ed Sykes 
Jordan Rhodes (left) celebrates with Blackburn team-mates
But he won’t decide. The club is run remotely from India by owners Venky’s, a huge chicken-to-pharmaceuticals group.
And Blackburn have mounting financial problems. Parachute payments run out in the summer, they have debts of £80m and are under a transfer embargo and so getting the hitman’s £30,000 per week off the wage-bill and fixing a fee now would suit them.
Rovers have told Rhodes, an £8m signing from Huddersfield, he can go, sparking interest from title rivals Derby and Norwich - but the Gazette understands only Boro have made a formal bid considered acceptable.
The deal includes a hefty fee if Boro are promoted plus extra payments based on goals, appearances and Boro’s survival in the top flight next term - but it falls well short of the £12m figure reported elsewhere.
The Gazette understands the deal has been thrashed out with Rovers chiefs at Ewood Park and has now been referred to India for a final decision.
The Gazette also understands the player, nephew of assistant boss Steve Agnew, is keen to make the switch if the bid is accepted.
He has not been a regular starter this term, boss Bowyer preferring bustling Rudy Gestede.
Derby remain keen but have not followed up an initial inquiry. They have loan man Darren Bent also out injured for a month with a hamstring but striker Chris Martin could be back next week.
Norwich also inquired as Lewis Grabban is out with an ankle injury but have not made a bid.
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