Ruben Amorim: The Sporting manager might be at Manchester United in time for their match against Chelsea.
Man Utd and Sporting are in advanced negotiations to name Ruben Amorim as Erik ten Hag's replacement after the Dutchman was fired; Sporting informs the Portuguese stock exchange that United is willing to cover Amorim's release clause.
Ruben Amorim, the head coach of Sporting, is in advanced talks with Manchester United and may be in charge of Sunday's Premier League match against Chelsea, which will air live on Sky Sports.
After the Dutchman was fired on Monday morning, United approached Sporting about hiring Amorim as their new manager, and it is believed that negotiations are progressing to replace the 39-year-old Erik ten Hag.
Sporting told the Portuguese stock exchange on Tuesday that Man United was willing to pay the £8.3 million release clause for Amorim, who was on the club's shortlist of choices.
Amorim might be in the dugout at Old Trafford for Sunday's home match against Chelsea if a compensation package can be agreed upon, but a deal has not yet been completed and sources maintain that an announcement on United's new permanent manager is not close.
It is believed that Amorim would enjoy the challenge of coaching United, even if he dismissed the subject of whether he is in the running for the Old Trafford position during a press conference following Ten Hag's dismissal.
At a pre-game press conference on Monday, Amorim responded to a question about his future following Ten Hag's dismissal by saying: "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."
He continued: "I am very proud of being Sporting head coach."
Hugo Viana, a personal friend of his, is expected to relocate to the blue half of Manchester as the club's new director of football for the upcoming season, and he has been floated as a potential manager of Manchester City in recent weeks.
Amorim, a former midfielder for Portugal and Benfica, retired from playing in 2017 and assumed his first coaching position at Braga two years later.
Then, in March 2020, he joined Sporting, where he has become one of Europe's most sought-after young coaches and twice led the team to league championships.
Additionally, he has won the Portuguese League Cup, or Taca da Liga, three times—once with Braga and twice with Sporting.
