Town’s reported renewed move for Doncaster Rovers frontman Billy Sharp came after the Blues failed with an approach for ex-striker Jordan Rhodes, according to one of Sunday’s tabloids.
On Thursday, Town were again linked with Sharp, who was the subject of a rebuffed £2.3 million offer in the summer, along with a £300,000 bid for Rovers midfielder James Coppinger.
Sharp, 25, was mysteriously left out of Doncaster’s 16 for Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Coventry City due to what Rovers officially referred to as a "a family problem”, while Southampton have also been linked with a £2 million deal on a loan becoming a permanent switch basis. Sharp turned down the chance to join the Saints in the summer after the clubs had agreed a £3.25 million fee.
On Saturday, Doncaster chairman John Ryan revealed that his club need to raise cash to reduce an expected £3.6 million loss this season.
Rhodes, 21, was controversially sold to Huddersfield for £850,000 by former boss Roy Keane in the summer of 2009 and has subsequently impressed for the Terriers, scoring 58 goals in 97 starts and 18 sub appearances. This season he has already netted 18 times for Huddersfield and Scotland’s U21s, including three hat-tricks.
Manchester United were linked last week with plenty of Championship clubs, including Reading and Crystal Palace, previously having been mentioned in connection with the Oldham-born frontman. If and when Rhodes moves on from Huddersfield, Town are entitled to an undisclosed percentage of the profit the League One club make on the striker, the son of former Blues keeper-coach Andy.
The link between the Blues and Rhodes junior could come from Paul Jewell’s presence at two recent Huddersfield games, however, the frontman came on as a sub with only 19 minutes remaining of one and was unused in the other.
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