Aitor Karanka set to become the new manager of Birmingham City

Aitor Karanka is poised to become the new manager of Birmingham City.

Talks are at an advanced stage for the 46-year-old former Middlesbrough coach to succeed Pep Clotet at St Andrews with all parties going over the finer details.

Karanka has also worked as coach of Nottingham Forest and was assistant to Jose Mourinho while at Real Madrid. He gained promotion with Middlesbrough in 2016 but left the following March.

Birmingham chief executive Xuandong Ren is understood to have been out in Spain to finalise negotiations amid interest from Deportivo Alaves for Karanka.

Birmingham failed to win a game following the return from lockdown, picking up just three points from a possible 27 to finish two places and two points above the relegation places.

The run saw Spaniard Clotet leave as head coach on July 8 following a 3-1 defeat by Swansea, after initially being set to see out the season.

Charlton Athletic's Lee Bowyer had also been among the names under consideration.

Another, Wigan Athletic manager Paul Cook has tendered his resignation and is awaiting acceptance from the club's administrators.

Cook is understood to have consulted with the LMA prior to his decision as Wigan would have claim for compensation under the terms of his contract if he left to join another club. However, if Wigan fail to pay staff properly the validity of any contract clauses are brought into question.