Manchester United are interested in appointing Sporting boss Ruben Amorim as their new manager and are willing to pay his ten million euros (£8.3m) release clause, the Portuguese club say.
The Red Devils need a new manager after sacking Erik ten Hag on Monday.
“Manchester United have expressed their interest in recruiting coach Ruben Amorim and have said they are ready to pay the ten million euro release clause,” Sporting said in a statement to Portugal’s financial regulator, the CMVM.
Amorim, 39, is a highly regarded coach who has won two Portuguese league titles with Sporting – including their first in 19 years – since joining in 2020.
United have declined to comment on the reports.
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.
United are also 21st of 36 teams in the Europa League table, having drawn their three opening fixtures.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, who joined the club as Ten Hag’s assistant last summer, has been named as interim manager and will take charge of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie at home to Leicester City.
United’s next Premier League game is against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Portuguese manager Amorim said he was expecting a question about the Manchester United job but was not prepared to talk about it.
Sporting face Nacional in the Portuguese League Cup on Tuesday evening.
Amorim – whose contract runs until June 2026 – held talks with West Ham in April but there was no agreement and the Portuguese subsequently apologised to Sporting for holding discussions behind the club’s back. (BBC)
