Blackburn manager Bowyer: Jordan Rhodes "not for sale"

Over the last week or so, Bolton Wanderers have been almost continuously linked with a big-money move for Blackburn Rovers striker Jordan Rhodes. The Rovers striker scored 28 goals in all competitions for Blackburn last season and it's easy to see why Wanderers, who have not had a 20+ goal per season striker in well over a decade, would want him. The move would require significant funds from Bolton, something that they have not done in years.

Manager Dougie Freedman had denied the move when speaking to the Bolton News yesterday, saying:

"I can only answer it in two ways - firstly, I can't sign a cheque like that because I haven't got enough money.

"I believe Eddie could, but in all seriousness we have got a responsibility here.

"I have been really fortunate and spent most of my career in the Championship, and I have seen lots of clubs who go and buy over-priced players and it backfires on them, they don't get what they want and put themselves in a bad financial position.

The above is a point that Freedman has reiterated time and time again in his tenure as Bolton's manager. Bolton have already done some spending this offseason, paying for the services of Hayden White with a £1 million move still on the cards for Jermaine Beckford. On top of that, Bolton face tribunals for Conor Wilkinson and Rob Hall's respective fees.

"Of course, if any player comes up at the right price at the right value, then I'll be knocking on the owner's door. But I don't get any kicks out of going and spending big money just to show fans I can do it.

"Fact is very simple, he's a Blackburn Rovers player and I can't comment on him because it's disrespectful to them," he said.

"Fiction is something we all dream of - he's a wonderful young player with a terrific goalscoring record. I think every manager in this division would like to have him in his team, or at least I'd like to think so.

"But that's the difference between actual facts, and fiction."

Speaking to the BBC, Blackburn manager Gary Bowyer stated his stance on the potential sale of Jordan Rhodes:

"I'll keep on having to say it until the end of August - he's not for sale.

"I've spoken to Jordan and he's more than happy here.

"Dougie's comments are correct because everyone would want him in their team. Last season he scored a hatful of goals and that's something we're building the team around now.

"If we can provide him with more opportunities than he got last season, he's going to score more goals. The boy's a natural finisher."