Report: Birmingham City eye former Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka

Former Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka is reportedly the man Birmingham City chiefs want to replace Harry Redknapp at St Andrew's.

The Blues are on the lookout for a new manager after parting company with Redknapp at the weekend, fresh on the back of losing a sixth game on the spin.

A number of names have been linked with the vacant job, including ex-Brum coach Steve Cotterill and current stand-in Lee Carsley, but The Mirror reports that Karanka is in pole position.

It is claimed that City's owners want an experienced coach who boasts promotion-winning experience, such as the Spaniard who took Boro up to the Premier League in 2016 before being sacked less than a year later.

Karanka is currently mourning the loss of his father and recently turned down the chance to boss Alaves in La Liga.