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Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has admitted that he tried to bring Jordan Rhodes to Villa Park - but the deal has fallen flat.

Bruce had identified Middlesbrough hitman Rhodes as the answer to Villa's goalscoring problems and made a move during the week to bring him to B6.

Bruce had initially wanted to sign Rhodes, whom he tried to sign twice while manager of Hull City, on a loan deal but his parent club are only interested in a permanent transfer at this stage.

While Bruce is on the verge of sealing a deal to bring in Nottingham Forest captain Henri Lansbury, signing Rhodes now looks a long shot.

Bruce said of the deal for 26-year-old Rhodes: "It looks as if that's run its course. We tried our best to bring him in but that looks as if it's not going to happen."