Manchester United’s talks with Ruben Amorim have advanced and the club are hoping to have the Portuguese in place in time for Sunday’s Premier League match against Chelsea.
Amorim wants to be Manchester United’s next manager and negotiations are ongoing over his coaching staff, the timing of his appointment, as well as his release fee with Sporting Lisbon.
Amorim is set to take charge of Sporting against Nacional in the Portuguese league cup on Tuesday night, in what is being viewed as potentially his last game for the club.
United first contacted the 39-year-old’s camp at the start of October – before the last international break – where they were initially expected to sack Erik ten Hag in a London meeting of the club’s hierarchy. Amorim was immediately open to the idea of managing United.
But club representatives came away believing there were two potential issues. One was that the coach’s preference was to leave Sporting at the end of the season and the other was the size of the clause, which could bring a fee of up to €20m.
Amorim’s representatives have even floated the idea of agreeing a deal where he joins United at the end of the season – but United’s new football leadership have been adamant they want Amorim to start as soon as possible.
United’s charm offensive naturally went to another level after Ten Hag was sacked on Monday, although principles of discussion were already in place.
Amorim is said to be genuinely torn on leaving now, and doesn’t want to be seen as someone who constantly departs jobs mid-season. That already happened on leaving Braga to join Sporting in the first place, but the 39-year-old is nevertheless aware of the opportunity United represents.
Sporting, meanwhile, have already started considering alternatives, which speaks to the state of discussions.
There are potentially some issues still to be resolved over the clause. Sources close to the Portuguese side insist that United have to pay €20m to get the deal done – but there is a belief an agreement could be struck for €10m.
Although Amorim has been seen as a potential candidate for the Manchester City job, those close to him state that he sees that situation as “too subject to change”.
Pep Guardiola might decide to stay, or the club could even face relegation from the outcome of their Premier League hearing. City insist on their innocence.
Some of these issues have also been raised in discussions with United, that have also centred on the quality of the squad and how Amorim’s three-man defence would fit.
