Championship title chasers Middlesbrough have made a statement of their intent on transfer deadline day by confirming the big-money signing of Jordan Rhodes on a four-and-a-half-year deal.
The outgoing Blackburn Rovers striker had been expected to join Middlesbrough on Friday, but talks broke down over the weekend as the finances of the deal began to increase past Boro's limit.
However, after being told to leave training by Rovers manager Paul Lambert on Monday morning, Rhodes made his journey to Teesside after communications between the two clubs were re-opened and a deal was agreed.
The up-front transfer fee is thought to be around the £9million mark, with bonuses and increases hinging on Rhodes' own performances and Boro's ability to succeed in their promotion campaign.
Aitor Karanka's men recently topped the second-tier table, but back-to-back league defeats to Bristol City and Nottingham Forest have seen Middlesbrough slip down to second, though they hold a game in hand over their title rivals.
Scotland international Rhodes has the knack for goals
25-year-old Rhodes' scoring record in the Championship in recent years is unparalleled, with the Scotland international bagging 82 goals for Blackburn since joining in 2012.
In fact, the last time Rhodes failed to hit the 20-goal mark for a season in all competitions was in the 2008-09 season, when he was a teenager in League Two. Incidentally, that was also the most recent season Middlesbrough spent in the Premier League.
Boro add punch to title tilt
Despite having the most watertight defence in the league, Middlesbrough were keen to add a prolific frontman to their squad in this transfer window, with Rhodes apparently their main target ahead of Fulham's Ross McCormack.
Karanka signed David Nugent and Cristhian Stuani in the summer but the former has failed to find the net regularly, while the latter has enjoyed most of his goalscoring success this season from the right wing.
Further news expected in the Championship
Middlesbrough are also expected to confirm the loan signings of Leicester City defender Ritchie De Laet and young Belgian midfielder Julien De Sart from Standard Liege before the transfer deadline passes.
Blackburn boss Lambert will hope to re-invest some of the transfer fee in his squad immediately, meaning a late transfer merry-go-round could be triggered in the Championship after a dramatic final day of the window.