Lee Bowyer is set to leave Charlton Athletic and become the new manager of Birmingham City, according to Football Insider.

Birmingham are reportedly set to part company with Aitor Karanka, with the 47-year-old winning only eight games in charge of Blues since being appointed in the summer.

Blues currently sit 21st in the Sky Bet Championship table and only three points clear of the relegation zone, with Rotherham United having four games in hand.

But according to Football Insider, Birmingham are set to pull off something of a coup by luring Lee Bowyer away from Charlton Athletic.

They claim that Bowyer has resigned as manager of the Addicks and is set to make a return to St. Andrew's. The 44-year-old made over 80 appearances for the club during a two-year spell between 2009 and 2011.

Bowyer has been in charge of Charlton since March 2018, picking up 64 wins at the helm at the Valley. He guided them to promotion in 2019, but couldn't prevent them from being relegated back down to League One last season.

The Addicks currently sit eighth in League One as things stand, only two points off the play-off positions.

The Verdict

This is a really surprising development.

Charlton aren't in a bad position at all. I know a few teams above them have games in hand, but they aren't a million miles off the play-off places in League One.

It's a big statement of intent from Birmingham. He knows the club well and knows how to galvanise a dressing room and pick up results straight away.