Manchester United is on the verge of appointing Ruben Amorim as their new manager following the sacking of Erik ten Hag, Soccernet.football reports.
Ten Hag’s dismissal came after a dismal 1-0 defeat to West Ham United, which left United in 14th place in the Premier League, level on points with the Hammers.
Ruud van Nistelrooy has since stepped in as interim manager but is expected to hold the position temporarily until Amorim’s appointment is finalised.
According to TheAthletic’s David Ornstein, United are prepared to pay the €10 million release clause to secure Amorim from Sporting Lisbon.
However, Portuguese broadcaster RTP reports the clause could be as high as €20 million, underscoring United’s willingness to invest in the promising young manager. The Manchester Evening News further confirmed that Amorim has agreed to the move, with discussions continuing.
Despite his commitment to Sporting, the opportunity to manage a club of United’s stature seems to have swayed Amorim, who is widely regarded as one of Europe’s top emerging coaches.
Sources close to the situation suggest that Amorim’s arrival might not be formalised until the November international break, allowing van Nistelrooy to continue managing the team in the interim.
Amorim, 39, has gained significant attention in European football since his successful tenure with Sporting, where he won two league titles and two Taca de Liga trophies, breaking the club’s nearly two-decade-long title drought.
Previously, he was in the running for the managerial roles at Liverpool and Chelsea and even engaged in discussions with West Ham before publicly apologizing for any potential conflicts.
Manchester United face Chelsea in their next Premier League fixture this weekend, where van Nistelrooy is expected to lead the side.