MANCHESTER UNITED are closing in on a deal for Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim to become their new manager.
The Athletic claims talks have intensified on Monday evening, just hours after United brutally sacked Erik ten Hag.
GettyManchester United are nearing a deal to make Ruben Amorim their new boss[/caption]
And it’s believed Amorim has already verbally agreed to take charge at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag was given his marching orders after Sunday’s dismal defeat at West Ham.
Ruud van Nistelrooy has been put in charge as interim United boss ahead of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie with Leicester.
But he may not get a go against Chelsea in the league next Sunday, with Sporting boss Amorim firmly in Ineos’ sights.
It’s reckoned Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co are deep in talks with the tactician, who has won two titles in the Portuguese capital.
Former midfielder Amorim, 39, is regarded as one of Europe’s brightest young coaches.
He was previously linked with the Chelsea job in 2023 before Mauricio Pochettino took charge.
Amorim was then tipped as a potential successor to Jurgen Klopp when the German announced he would be quitting Liverpool earlier this year.
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And in April, Amorim sensationally jetted to London for talks with West Ham before calling their contact “a mistake.”
Sporting would be reluctant to see the ace leave, with Amorim transforming their fortunes on the pitch following his arrival in 2020.
But United are willing to pay £8m to prise him from his contract in Portugal and bring him to Old Trafford to spearhead Ratcliffe’s revolution.
Speaking at a press conference earlier today, Amorim was asked by local media whether he would be interested in taking the Red Devils job.
Amorim gave a coy answer, saying: “I was already expecting this question and obviously I’m not going to talk about the future, because otherwise I’ll always have to comment. I’m very proud to be Sporting coach, that’s all.”
Sporting play Nacional in the Portuguese Cup tomorrow night and it remains to be seen whether Amorim is on the sideline for the clash.
The former Benfica star and Portugal international has favoured a 3-4-3 system during his time at Sporting, with his key men including Ivorian centre-back Ousmane Diomande, Japanese midfielder Hidemasa Morita and Portuguese forward Pedro Goncalves.
But Amorim’s main star is undoubtedly Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres, who has scored 56 goals in 63 games following a move from Championship Coventry City last year.
Sporting cruised to last season’s title with just two defeats all season while scoring 96 goals in the process.
And they currently lead the race in the new campaign with nine wins from nine, while also netting 30 goals and conceding just two in the process.
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