October 30 – Rúben Amorim is poised to be confirmed as Manchester United’s manager after Sporting Lisbon revealed United were ready to pay his release clause of €10 million to replace the sacked Erik Ten Hag.
Reports predict Amorim could be in charge as early as Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Chelsea – United’s sixth permanent manager in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
“Manchester United is interested, but it’s my choice,’ Amorim said Tuesday after what could be his final game in Lisbon, a 3-1 League Cup win over Nacional.
‘Until everything is decided, we won’t be making any noise. There’s nothing concrete to say right now, but when I have to speak about the subject, I will.”
“Of course the Sporting fans are angry. They have a lot of affection for me and my work. People have to feel what they have to feel at this moment. I understand that and it’s perfectly natural. If I have the opportunity, and I certainly will, I’ll explain in detail why I decided one thing or another.”
Reports suggest United have offered Amorim a three-year deal worth about £6.5 million a season and will allow him to bring in his own backroom staff from Sporting where he’s won the league title twice in four full seasons.
Ten Hag was dismissed after Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at West Ham left the club 14th in the Premier League with just three wins from their opening nine matches.
His assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy is in temporary charge for the Carabao Cup tie at home against Leicester tonight but is likely to then hand over to Amorim who may find himself with a limited budget to strengthen the squad in January after Ten Hag was backed in the summer with a £200 million spend on five players – Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte.
Altogether about £600 million was invested in building a squad for Ten Hag over five transfer windows and Amorim seems likely to have to work mainly with what he inherits until next summer.
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