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(Image: GETTY)

The Sunday People claim Villa chief Roberto di Matteo offered the Premier League new boys £1m to take the striker on loan.

But Boro snubbed the offer and opted to keep the Scottish international at the Riverside Stadium.

Villa splashed the cash this summer as they look to return to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Di Matteo snapped up strikers Ross McCormack for £12m from Fulham and Jonathan Kodjia from Bristol City for £15m.

If the former Chelsea chief had managed to land Rhodes, he could have been a formidable addition.

The 26-year-old bagged 82 goals in 159 for Blackburn before joining Boro in January.

He's struggled to establish himself on Teeside, but Aitor Karanka has backed the prolific forward to force himself into first-team contention.

(Image: GETTY)

Speaking last month, he said: “I speak to Jordan all the time. He’s a good kid and I trust him 100 per cent.

“He understands there is a lot of competition among the strikers.

"He’s fighting for his place just like everyone else. But that competition is good for him.”