BLACKBURN Rovers striker Jordan Rhodes has gone public and said he is ‘unhappy’ that he has been refused permission to speak to Middlesbrough.

Middlesbrough have held talks with Rovers this week in an attempt to seal a £12m deal but Venky’s do not want to sell to another Championship club.

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Rhodes, who joined Rovers from Huddersfield Town for £8m three years ago, has never made any public comment about previous interest from the likes of Hull City during his time at Rovers. But he has now said he wants to speak to Middlesbrough.

Rhodes said: "I have been advised by the club that they have rejected an offer from Middlesbrough for my services which was in excess of what Blackburn paid for me.

"I am ambitious and have never hidden my desire to play at the highest level possible and that was one of the reasons why I left Huddersfield Town for Blackburn.

"When I left Huddersfield I felt the timing was right in the next stage of my career and, having seen Middlesbrough's performances last season in reaching the play-off final and their ambition this summer in terms of acquisitions, I would have liked to have been able to talk to them and I am unhappy at not being given that opportunity."

Rhodes' uncle Steve Agnew is the assistant manager at Middlesbrough. Agnew was previously at Hull when the Tigers had offers rejected for the striker a year ago.