MIDDLESBROUGH have pulled out of a deal for Jordan Rhodes after failing to reach an agreement over the striker’s wage demands.

The Teessiders could still strike a new agreement before the transfer window closes at 11pm tomorrow, but that would require Rhodes to drop some of the demands that caused negotiations to collapse earlier today.

Boro agreed a deal with Blackburn officials on Friday evening that would have seen them pay an initial fee of £9m, with potential add ons worth a further £2m.

Rhodes travelled to Rockliffe Park yesterday, and successfully completed a medical. However, problems started to arise once attention turned to the financial deals of the striker’s contract.

Boro were prepared to honour the terms of Rhodes’ Blackburn contract, which is understood to have included a significant bonus in the event of promotion.

However, Rhodes’ negotiating team are believed to have demanded additional bonuses clauses and incentive-based payments which would have potentially taken the deal above Boro’s current wage ceiling.

As a result, Steve Gibson opted to pull the plug on the negotiations and will not be willing to return to the table unless Rhodes’ team alter their demands.

It remains to be seen whether that happens ahead of tomorrow’s transfer window. Blackburn boss Paul Lambert spoke about Rhodes’ anticipated departure yesterday evening and is unlikely to be too happy about having to accommodate an unhappy player in the second half of the season.

Boro are likely to hold a further set of discussions with Fulham over the future of Ross McCormack. The striker is keen to move to the Riverside, but Fulham had steadfastly refused to accept the Teessiders’ £8m valuation of the Scotsman.