Manchester United are in advanced talks with Sporting head coach Ruben Amorim and he could be in charge as manager for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Chelsea.
United approached Sporting over appointing Amorim as their new manager and talks are thought to be advancing over making the 39-year-old Erik ten Hag’s successor after the Dutchman was sacked on Monday morning.
Amorim was part of the club’s shortlist of options on Monday, and on Tuesday Sporting informed the Portuguese stock exchange that United were prepared to pay the £8.3 million release clause.
A deal has not been done yet and sources insist an announcement on United’s new permanent manager is not imminent, but if a compensation package can be agreed Amorim could be in the dugout at Old Trafford for Sunday’s home game with Chelsea, Sky Sports reported.
Despite batting away the question of whether he is in the frame to get the Old Trafford job during a press conference after Ten Hag’s sacking, it is understood Amorim would relish the challenge of coaching United.
Man United sack Erik ten Hag as coach
When asked about his future in the wake of Ten Hag’s sacking, Amorim said at a pre-match press conference on Monday: “I was expecting that question and obviously I am not going to talk about my future.
“I am not going to speak about my future because no matter what I say I’d have to always talk about it.
“Since the first day, I said it was not worthy to ask about it and I am not going to make any comments about my future.
“I am very proud of being Sporting head coach.”
In recent weeks he has been suggested as a future Manchester City manager with Sporting’s Hugo Viana, a close friend, due to move to the blue half of Manchester as the club’s new director of football next season.
A former Benfica and Portugal midfielder, Amorim retired as a player in 2017 and just two years later he took up his first managerial job at Braga.
He then joined Sporting in March 2020 where he has established himself as one of Europe’s most sought-after young coaches, twice guiding the club to the league title.
He has also won the Taca da Liga – the Portuguese League Cup – on three occasions, twice with Sporting and once with Braga.
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