BLACKBURN Rovers owners Venky’s have rejected a club record bid from Hull City for Jordan Rhodes – insisting they have no intention of selling the star striker.

It is understood that Hull, whose current club record signing is £8m midfielder Jake Livermore, were willing to pay in excess of £10m for Rhodes.

The proposed deal included add ons as well as a player – believed to be Tigers boss Steve Bruce’s son, defender Alex Bruce.

But Venky’s have put a halt to the negotiations which have taken place since Hull had an initial £8m offer rejected on Thursday.

Rhodes, who has scored 53 goals in 99 games for Rovers following his club record £8m move from Huddersfield Town in August 2012 and penned a new and improved five-year contract last month, is expected to start in today’s Championship clash at home to Bournemouth (3pm).

It will be his 100th appearance for the club.

Rovers directors of communications Alan Myers said: “We have recently received two official bids for the services of Jordan Rhodes from Hull City FC, both have been respectfully and categorically rejected.

“The owners of Blackburn Rovers wish to reassure fans that their intention is not to sell Jordan Rhodes as they, along with the manager and board of directors, feel that he is integral to our bid to gain promotion back to the Premier League.

“Despite the necessity to comply with and address the pending restrictions of FFP regulations, the owners feel it would be a detrimental step to lose our top goalscorer and such an icon of this football club.

“We made our intentions clear this summer when we rewarded Jordan with a new and improved contract and we stand by that.

“We want to give Gary Bowyer and the team the best possible opportunity to get back to the top flight and Jordan has been and remains a significant part of that aim.

“It is also important to acknowledge that Jordan has acted, unsurprisingly, in a totally professional manner during this period of speculation.”