Manchester United have approached Sporting over appointing head coach Ruben Amorim as their new boss.
Talks are thought to be ongoing over making the 39-year-old Erik ten Hag’s successor after the Dutchman was sacked on Monday morning.
United would need to pay the Portuguese’s Sporting release clause – and it is understood they are prepared to do that.
Sporting have a 100 per cent record at the top of the Portuguese league this season having won all nine games scoring 30 goals and conceding just twice.
Meanwhile, in the Champions League, Amorim’s side are unbeaten having won two of their three games to sit eighth.
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.
Amorim had been in the running to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool in the summer before Arne Slot was handed the job.
He also held talks over becoming David Moyes’ replacement at West Ham, before later apologising for the timing and publicity of the talks in London.
At the age of 36, Amorim led Sporting to a first league title in 19 years in 2021 and then won his second with the club last season.
He has also won the Taca da Liga – the Portuguese League Cup – on three occasions, twice with Sporting and once with Braga.
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.
‘Amorim would relish chance of managing Man Utd’
Sky Sports News’ senior reporter Melissa Reddy:
“Amorim has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Ten Hag at Man Utd, although sources insist an announcement on the new permanent manager is not imminent.
“The Sporting CP boss was part of the club’s shortlist of options as revealed by Sky Sports News earlier on Monday and his £8.3 million release clause is not seen as prohibitive.
“A deal has not been done yet, but advanced discussions have not been denied by any of the parties involved.
“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.
“Having been pipped to the Liverpool job by Arne Slot and showing regret over a very public flirtation with West Ham in April, the 39-year-old’s next step was destined to be in the Premier League.
“Interesting, sources with knowledge of Xavi’s situation had told Sky Sports News earlier on Monday that it was Amorim and not the former Barcelona manager that United were attempting to hire.”
Why Man Utd are in talks with Amorim
Sky Sports News chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol:
“Amorim was linked with the West Ham job, the Liverpool job and there is even talk of him being a Manchester City manager one day.
“He is one of the most coveted young coaches in Europe at the moment. It is not just United who are interested.
“One of the stumbling blocks to this deal being done is the fact that he’s got this release clause in his contract.
“Sporting had to pay a big release clause to get him in the first place and United will have to pay €10m (£8.3m) to get him.
“United have to comply with PSR rules and they have to also pay off Erik ten Hag so there’s talk they will have to pay him the region of £15m.
“So United would need to spend not only to sack Ten Hag but also to bring in Amorim.
“His brand of football is attractive but some detractors would say what he has achieved has been over a very short period of time in Portuguese football.
“With all due respect, the level of the Portuguese league is not at the same level as others in Europe. But it looks like Amorim could be the next big Portuguese manager.”
Why Sporting coach Amorim could be right for Man Utd
Sky Sports’ Adam Bate:
It has long been inevitable that Ruben Amorim would take one of Europe’s biggest jobs. Winning the title with Sporting in 2021 at the age of 36 all but guaranteed that. Repeating the feat last season only underlined his ability as a coach.
Sporting recognised that this was a special talent very early, famously paying a huge release clause after his spectacular start at Braga. They bet on his tactical mind, his fierce commitment as a player, but more than anything on the power of his personality.
In conversation with a series of Portuguese coaches, some of whom have pitted their wits against Amorim in his native country, we will explore his rise, what it is that makes him so impressive as a coach, and, crucially, whether this can be translated into his next job.
Read Adam Bate’s Ruben Amorim analysis here.