Manchester United are reportedly closing in on their prime managerial goal Ruben Amorim though the Sporting Lisbon coach mentioned “nothing is determined but” when it got here to him changing the sacked Erik ten Hag. As United ready on Wednesday to play their first recreation since they dismissed Ten Hag, dealing with Leicester within the League Cup at Old Trafford, behind the scenes 39-year-old Amorim seems to be their primary option to take over the hotseat. United pulled the plug on Ten Hag’s two-year reign as supervisor on Monday after a 2-1 defeat by West Ham left them 14th within the Premier League.
Amorim shortly emerged because the main contender to succeed the Dutchman and Sporting issued a press release to the Lisbon inventory trade on Tuesday confirming United have been keen to fulfill his 10-million-euro ($10.8 million) launch clause.
Sky Sports on Wednesday quoted a supply at Sporting saying Amorim’s transfer at Old Trafford was a “accomplished deal”, however the membership remained tightlipped.
Amorim was guarded when requested after Sporting’s League Cup win in opposition to Nacional on Tuesday if it was his final match with the membership.
“Nobody is aware of whether or not this was my farewell match. Nothing is determined but,” he mentioned.
Despite spending closely within the switch market in the summertime, Ten Hag paid the worth for United’s poor begin to the season.
They have received simply one among their final eight video games in all competitions.
United have appointed Ruud van Nistelrooy as interim boss however Amorim, who is taken into account one among Europe’s main younger coaches, is reportedly the main contender to take over on a everlasting foundation.
The former Portugal worldwide midfielder has received two Portuguese titles with Sporting since becoming a member of the membership in March 2020.
He was briefly linked with the supervisor’s position at Liverpool after Jurgen Klopp introduced he was leaving and went so far as holding talks with West Ham this 12 months, earlier than they appointed former Spain coach Julen Lopetegui.
– ‘Age would not matter’ –
Amorim could be one of many youngest managers within the Premier League if appointed by United.
But Pep Guardiola, who has guided United’s UAE-backed neighbours Manchester City to an unprecedented 4 successive Premier League titles, insisted Amorim’s age was not a problem.
“Why is it an issue?” mentioned City supervisor Guardiola. “I began at Barcelona, at 37 years previous, coming into the fourth division.
“Knowledge is information. If you’re able, it would not matter…What’s vital is expertise. If you’re good, age would not matter,” the Spaniard added.
Van Nistelrooy, who will take cost in opposition to Leicester, mentioned within the matchday programme he was “saddened” by Ten Hag’s departure.
The former United ahead added it was “a fantastic honour to handle the membership I like for nevertheless lengthy I’m requested to take action”.
Whoever the brand new United supervisor is, they are going to inherit a squad largely constructed by Ten Hag that features a number of gamers who’ve confirmed to be costly failures.
The most obtrusive instance is Antony, the Brazilian ahead signed for practically £90 million from Ten Hag’s former membership Ajax in 2022, who has scored simply 12 objectives in 87 appearances.
United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe reviewed Ten Hag’s progress in the summertime after the membership completed eighth within the league however received the FA Cup with a shock victory over Manchester City.
The membership have been additionally believed to have spoken to different potential managers however determined to retain Ten Hag and handed him hundreds of thousands for brand new gamers.
But Ten Hag was sacked as a result of United, who final received the Premier League in 2013, have proven little enchancment this season.
The former Ajax coach, who joined United in May 2022, argued in his remaining days in cost he deserved respect for profitable the League Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup a 12 months later.
In feedback embargoed till Tuesday, Ten Hag mentioned earlier than the Leicester match he thought profitable a trophy in his third season would make it successful.
“Definitely, it is about trophies,” he mentioned. “If you win a trophy in professional soccer, that’s most vital as a result of that’s what the followers count on and what we count on.”
Since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 after main United to a file twentieth league title, 5 full-time managers have come and gone at Old Trafford.
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