JORDAN Rhodes is heading back to Blackburn Rovers after his £11m transfer to Middlesbrough collapsed in dramatic fashion yesterday.

Rovers had agreed to sell their 11-goal top-scorer to their Championship rivals after he made it clear he wanted to join his long-time suitors.

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But Rhodes has been left ‘baffled and disappointed’ after Middlesbrough pulled the plug on the deal over a failure to agree personal terms.

Rovers boss Paul Lambert had hoped to reinvest the funds generated by the departure of the striker on new signings in an effort to build a team capable of challenging for promotion.

But his hopes of doing that before the transfer window closes at 11pm tonight hang in the balance after Rhodes saw a third proposed move away from Ewood Park fall through.

Rovers owners Venky’s rejected £10m-plus bids for the Scotland international from Hull City in August 2014 and from Middlesbrough in July last year.

But Venky’s were this time willing to let the wantaway Rhodes leave after 85 goals in 169 appearances for the club.

“After a fee was agreed between the two clubs, Jordan asked to go and speak to Middlesbrough,” said Lambert, whose side have been drawn at home to West Ham United or Liverpool in the fifth round of the FA Cup following their 3-0 victory at Oxford United on Saturday.

“This is the third window now where he has wanted to go and we felt it was right to give him that opportunity.

“After securing a good deal for the club, which would have enabled me to rebuild the squad, we allowed him to leave the team hotel on Friday night, but it appears that he could not agree personal terms with Middlesbrough.

“We had a terrific victory over Oxford United in the FA Cup, with some great performances by the players who came in, and we’ll continue to try and do that.”

Rovers and Middlesbrough, who meet at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday, both released statements about Rhodes yesterday.

Rovers said: “Blackburn Rovers can confirm that Jordan Rhodes has failed to agree personal terms with Middlesbrough.

“The striker travelled to Teesside yesterday to undergo a medical and for discussions over a potential move, but has now returned to Rovers.”

Middlesbrough said: “The club can confirm that we have held talks with Blackburn Rovers striker Jordan Rhodes over the weekend but have failed to agree terms.”

Rhodes told Sky Sports that he was ‘baffled and disappointed’ by Middlesbrough’s decision and added: “I’ll knuckle down and get my work head back on at Blackburn. It’s a great club.

“These things happen in football. I’m not the first and I won’t be the last.”

If Rhodes stay or goes it is understood that Lambert is not looking to bring in another centre-forward.

Instead he is believed to have targeted a left-back, a ball-playing midfielder and a creative attacker.

Rovers have made a loan offer for Everton and Republic of Ireland international winger Aiden McGeady who knows Lambert from when they played together at Celtic.

But last night it appeared that McGeady was on the verge of joining Sheffield Wednesday.

Everton boss Roberto Martinez said: “We’ve agreed terms with two teams in the Championship. It’s just a matter of time before one of the deals is clinched.

“Aiden needs to play and it’s a really good opportunity for him to do that in a very demanding fixture list for a team that can get a really good tempo into Aiden for the Euros.

“That will make sure he comes back having had a good period of football and of having an impact for whichever team he joins.”

If Lambert bolsters his ranks further today he insists he will only bring in players who he feels can go straight into his starting line-up.

Lambert said: “It’s important we don’t litter people here and bring them in for the sake of bringing them in.”