Aitor Karanka: 'Middlesbrough have ended Jordan Rhodes pursuit'

Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka has confirmed that the club have ended their pursuit of Jordan Rhodes following the signing of David Nugent.

The North-East outfit secured the signing of the 30-year-old from Leicester City for a fee in the region of £4m to bolster Karanka's striking options for their Championship campaign.

The Spaniard revealed that the club have left the race to sign Rhodes from Blackburn Rovers because he is comfortable with his strikeforce at the Riverside.

When asked if his pursuit had ended, Karanka told reporters: "Of course because we have David Nugent, we have [Christian] Stuani, we have Kike.

"Last season we had Kike, [Jelle] Vossen and [Patrick] Bamford, this season we have Nugent, Stuani and Kike so we don't need anyone more."

Nugent could make his debut for Middlesbrough on Saturday against Bolton Wanderers.