Robbie Fowler is poised to make a surprise move back to the Barclays Premier League after Cardiff announced he is set to join Blackburn.

The 33-year-old, who scored six goals in 16 games for the Bluebirds last season, has been linked with a move away from Ninian Park all summer and is now on the verge of being reunited with former Liverpool team-mate Paul Ince, who has taken over from Mark Hughes as manager at Ewood Park.

A statement on Cardiff's website, www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk, said: "Late on Thursday Robbie informed us that he has been offered the opportunity to join Blackburn Rovers.

"We fully understand the lure of the Premier League was a major factor in his decision and we wish Robbie well in the future at his new club."

The potential transfer is particularly surprising given the former England international failed to play for Cardiff after December 15 last season due to injury, missing the Welsh club's FA Cup final appearance against Portsmouth.

City chairman Peter Ridsdale insisted the release of Fowler would free up funds for other strikers to move to Ninian Park.

"We signed him last year with a year's option, but at this stage in his career it's understandable that he accepts an offer to go to the Premiership," he told BBC Radio Wales.

"We have to thank Robbie and move on, he goes with our best wishes.

"His image rights were important to us last year, but now we're looking at what he could do on the field.

"Robbie's move frees up budget for us to look for another striker.

"We're pretty close to signing a new striker in a deal that I've been working on all week, when that's done we'll look for another front man to take Robbie's place."

Robbie Fowler Factfile:

1975: Born Toxteth, Liverpool, April 9.

1986: Plays for Liverpool boys as an 11-year-old.

1992: Signs as a trainee for Liverpool.

1993: Makes league debut in 1-0 defeat at Chelsea on September 25. Scores all five goals in Liverpool's 5-0 victory over Fulham in the Coca-Cola Cup.

1994: Stars as England Under-21 team wins annual international tournament in Toulon, France.

1995: Voted PFA Young Player of the Year.

September - Suffers nose injury in bust-up with team-mate Neil Ruddock.

1996: March - Makes full England debut as a substitute in 1-0 friendly win over Bulgaria at Wembley.

May - Voted PFA Young Player of the Year for a second successive season.

1997: March - Receives worldwide praise when he tries to persuade referee Gerald Ashby not to award a penalty when felled by Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman.

1999: January - Scores 100th Premiership goal, against Southampton.

February 27 - Graeme Le Saux strikes Fowler, in Liverpool's defeat at Chelsea, after the Liverpool player is seen to make gestures at his opponent.

April - Causes uproar with goal celebration in Merseyside derby, responding to Everton taunts by mimicking cocaine sniffing on touchline. Later fined £32,000.

2000: December - Liverpool accept a £12million bid from Premiership rivals Chelsea.

Fowler declares he wanted to stay at Liverpool.

2001: February 25 - Scores as Liverpool beat Birmingham to win the Worthington Cup at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

May 12 - Leads Liverpool to victory in the FA Cup final over Arsenal in Cardiff.

May 16 - On target in the UEFA Cup final win over Alaves in Dortmund.

August - Involved in training-ground bust-up with assistant boss Phil Thompson which results in him being dropped for the Charity Shield.

November 27 - Liverpool accept £11million bid from Leeds.

December 19 - Nets first goal for new club.

2003 January 13 - Leeds agree £7million fee with Manchester City.

January 16 - Passes a medical but the move collapses when Fowler has a change of heart, claiming he got the 'wrong vibes' from the club.

January 30 - Changes his mind and completes move to Manchester City after a face-to-face chat with City boss Keegan.

March - Scores his first City goal, netting the winner against Birmingham.

2004 September - Ordered onto a 'get fit' regime by Kevin Keegan, who claims the striker is not fit enough to do himself justice in the Premiership.

2005 February 28 - Scores 150th and 151st Premiership goals in last-gasp 3-2 win at Norwich.

2006 January 27 - Rejoins Liverpool from Manchester City, signing a contract until the end of the season.

March 15 -

Scores first goal since his return in home game against Fulham, the same opposition he opened his Liverpool account against 13 years earlier.

2007: May 11 - Benitez confirmed that Fowler would beleaving at the end of the 2006-07 season.

May 13 - Captained the side in his last appearance for the club, against Charlton Athletic. Harry Kewell scored an equalising penalty in the 90th minute, which would have be taken by Fowler had he not been substituted two minutes earlier.

July 21: Agrees two-year contract with Cardiff, having rejected an offer from Sydney FC.

Goes on to score six goals in 16 games during an injury-ravaged season in Wales in which he does not play a match after December 15.

2008: May 17 - Fails to recover from a hip injury and misses Cardiff's FA Cup final defeat to Portsmouth.

July 11 - Cardiff reveal he has been allowed to discuss a move to Blackburn.

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