Former Nottingham Forest boss Aitor Karanka is reportedly set to be named Birmingham City’s next manager.
The Spaniard has been out of working since he left the City Ground in January 2019, after little more than a year in charge.
He was said to be in the running to take over at Valencia earlier this month, but now BBC Radio West Midlands claim he is set to be confirmed as Pep Clotet’s replacement.
It is reported Blues CEO Xuandong Ren has been in Spain finalising negotiations with Karanka.
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Should a deal get done, it would mean the 46-year-old coming up against the Reds in the Championship next season, as well as fellow former club Middlesbrough.
Karanka recently said he was waiting for the “right project” before returning to management, with the coronavirus pandemic having put things into perspective.
Asked by The Coaches’ Voice what was next for him, he said: “I don’t know. I don’t know yet.
“I think now the most important thing is the social life, the life in this difficult moment.
“It is difficult to think about the job because everything has stopped. I prefer to think about normal life and for the people who are suffering a lot now.
“I don’t know.
“I am calm. I am trying to organise things for coaches. I am trying to do different things, because now I think it is going to take time for me to go back.
“But I am not in a rush. I have always said the same. When I left Middlesbrough I was eight or 10 months without working. Now I have been out for 13 or 14 months.
“But when I go back it will be because it is the right project, with the right people and in a place where I can enjoy and help them to be successful again.”
