IT is hard to argue that selling Jordan Rhodes does not make financial sense but, when considering the latest offers that have come their way, the question Blackburn Rovers must ask is, what message would it send out?

Given the permanent transfer window is closed for business the only way Rhodes will leave Ewood Park this month is if he goes on loan.

MORE TOP STORIES:

But even if Rovers get a promise of a huge transfer fee at the end of that loan, to me, it screams, ‘our league season is over’.

Now it is going to take a Herculean effort to get into the top six.

But you would not expect anyone from the club to come out and say the play-off dream has died until it is a mathematical impossibility.

Letting Rhodes go on loan to Middlesbrough, Derby, Norwich or Nottingham Forest now, however, would do that for them.

Yes the loss of his wages off the balance sheet would improve the financial picture and yes, as we saw at Anfield on Sunday, Rovers can find a way of playing without him.

But the thought of Rhodes pulling on the shirt of another Championship side and willing him to do well does not sit right at all.

And we would be willing him to do well as that it is the only way Rovers would be guaranteed big bucks because you can bet your bottom dollar the clubs interested will only agree to a permanent deal if they get up into the Premier League.

There is still two weeks until the loan window closes.

By that stage Rovers’ situation may have changed. By that stage they may have accepted a fourth successive season outside of the top flight.

But even then there will be the little matter of the FA Cup quarter-final replay with Liverpool at Ewood Park to play.

And, while Rhodes has seen just 13 minutes of action in the cup so far this season, who is to say he will not be needed that night?