MIDDLESBROUGH have launched a dramatic deadline-day attempt to sign Fulham striker Ross McCormack after pulling out of an £11m deal for Jordan Rhodes yesterday.

Boro chairman Steve Gibson pulled the plug on Rhodes’ proposed switch from Blackburn Rovers after claims the Scotsman’s representatives insisted on a series of financial clauses that would have taken their client’s contract above the Teessiders’ wage ceiling.

However, with the Rhodes camp insisting Boro’s negotiating team had agreed to all of their demands before unexpectedly calling off talks, it is understood the ongoing interest in McCormack played a part in yesterday’s developments.

McCormack has long been Aitor Karanka’s preferred choice of attacking acquisition this month, and the breakdown of the Rhodes deal has created an opportunity for Boro to make a final offer to Fulham.

The Teessiders are expected to offer £12m for McCormack, who joined Fulham in an £11m move from Leeds United in July 2014, with Kike potentially being used as part of any deal.

Fulham are prepared to offer the Scotsman a new contract in order to keep him at Craven Cottage, but sources close to McCormack claim he is extremely keen to move to Teesside.

He submitted a formal transfer request in an attempt to force through a deal last week, and Boro’s willingness to table a deadline-day offer reflects a confidence that personal terms can be agreed swiftly if an agreement can be reached with Fulham.

Boro made a number of unsuccessful attempts to sign McCormack while he was still with Leeds, and have continued to covet the striker during his time at Craven Cottage.

McCormack’s 15 league goals make him the joint second-highest goalscorer in the Championship this season, and even at 29, he is regarded as having the potential to improve in the Premier League if Boro secure promotion.

Boro’s recruitment team still face a considerable battle to prise him from his current employers, although Fulham’s stance may have shifted yesterday evening when Mousa Dembele’s proposed move to Tottenham fell through.

Fulham had been demanding that Dembele be loaned back to them for the remainder of the campaign, but were concerned at the prospect of having to replace their two frontline strikers in the summer if McCormack was also to leave. After last night’s developments, that is no longer as much of a concern.

Rhodes’ transfer looked a formality after Blackburn accepted Boro’s £9m offer, with a further £2m of potential add-ons, on Friday night.

The striker left Blackburn’s team hotel where he had been preparing for Saturday’s FA Cup tie with Oxford United, and successfully passed a medical at Boro’s Rockliffe Park training ground.

However, problems began to become apparent when attention switched to the financial details of Rhodes’ proposed contract on Teesside.

Boro’s negotiating team, led by Gibson, were prepared to match the terms of Rhodes’ existing Blackburn contract – including a pre-existing bonus for achieving promotion – and were also prepared to add an extra 12 months to the length of the deal.

However, as discussions continued, it has been suggested that Rhodes’ representatives requested a series of additional incentive-based clauses related to the striker’s potential performances in a Boro shirt.

Those clauses, which have been contested by Rhodes’ negotiating team, are alleged to have related to goals and appearances as well as Boro’s finishing position in future seasons, giving them the potential to significantly increase the Teessiders’ total outlay to around £30m over the course of four-and-a-half years.

Rhodes’ representatives were asked to alter their demands, but a series of discussions failed to result in a compromise and Gibson informed the striker he was walking away from the talks.

That left Rhodes in limbo, and while the Scotland international has subsequently spoken of his willingness to return to Blackburn, sources in Lancashire claim he is furious at the unexpected turn of events.

He described himself as “baffled” and “disappointed” to Sky Sports, and added: “I’ll knuckle down and get my work head back on at Blackburn. It’s a great club.”

As well as attempting to sign a striker, the Teessiders also remain keen to recruit an additional midfielder. However, they look set to miss out on one of their leading targets as Tottenham’s Alex Pritchard is close to agreeing a season-long loan with West Brom.

Spurs had agreed to allow the 22-year-old, who impressed while on loan at Brentford last season, to join Middlesbrough, and he discussed a potential move to the Riverside with Boro officials.

However, Pritchard was initially concerned at being on the fringe of the first-team picture on Teesside, with Aitor Karanka boasting a sizeable number of midfield options already.

As a result, he looked set to move to Burnley instead, only for West Brom to edge out both Championship clubs as they made their own move yesterday evening.

Benfica’s Victor Lindelof remains another option for Boro, but Karanka could now wait for the reopening of the Football League loan window before adding to his midfield ranks.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough’s home game with Reading, which was originally scheduled for Saturday, February 20, will have to be rescheduled following the Royals’ progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup.