Manchester United are working on a deal to appoint Ruben Amorim as head coach

Manchester United are working on a deal to appoint Sporting Lisbon's Ruben Amorim as their new head coach.

The source, in Portugal, spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter athletic The 39-year-old is open to accepting the opportunity after Erik ten Haag was sacked on Monday.

United are ready to release a €10million (£8.3m) release clause in their contracts with the two clubs to finalize a deal that could see Ruud van Nistelrooy take over in the interim ahead of Amorim's arrival.

Amorim has emerged as one of Europe's most sought-after young managers after success with the Portuguese club, with United quickly moving in after making him their No.1 target to replace Ten Hag.

He was in contention to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool before Arne Slott eventually got the job, and was also in talks to replace David Moyes at West Ham, before later apologizing and calling the meeting a “mistake”.

He won the Primeira Liga title in 2021 and again last season won the Taka da Liga – the Portuguese League Cup – twice with Sporting and a third time with his previous club Braga.

He has also developed a reputation as a coach known for fielding young players and improving individual player performance.

A midfielder during his playing career, Amorim was a three-time league champion for Benfica and won 14 caps for the Portugal national team.

Ten Hague was appointed in April 2022 and led the club to the League Cup title in his first season in charge and the FA Cup in May.

The former Ajax head coach was retained as United manager following an end-of-season review by the club's hierarchy in the summer but only after announcing potential replacements, including England head coach Thomas Tuchel, Brentford head coach Thomas Frank and Ipswich Town. Manager Kieran McKenna.

United return to Premier League action with a home game against Chelsea on Sunday before meetings with three of the current bottom five in Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Everton next month.

They also have two Europa League games against PAOK and Bodo/Glimt. They currently sit 21st in the league stage of the new-look European competition after failing to win any of their first three matches.

Additional reporting: Lori Whitwell

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Why Amorim?

Analysis by Senior Data Analyst Mark Carey

Ruben Amorim is a manager who has had his fair share of job rumors in recent months, and you can understand why the 39-year-old is in demand.

Amorim led Sporting to their first league title for 19 years in 2021-22, followed it up with another win last season and Sporting have won nine from nine this season to sit top of the Primeira Liga.

Even accounting for the quality imbalance of the Primeira Liga, a team that boasts, statistically, one of the best attacks (chance creation, 95 out of 99) and the best defense (chance prevention, 97 out of 99) shows that their manager has to be a positive influence. there is

Stylistically, Amorim's 3-4-3 – or more specifically, a 3-4-2-1 – is built on high possession, a flexible attacking approach and a strong defensive base.

The arrival of striker Victor Geokeres last season led to a more transitional, direct attacking style (patient attacks, 49 of 99). It also highlights his ability to maximize his style by adapting to the skill sets of his players.

Amorim has shown a desire to bring young talent into the first team — including Goncalo Inacio, Mathieu Nunes, Nuno Mendes and Ousmane Diomande — and improve the team's quality with the resources at his disposal.

Bruno Fernandes moved to Manchester United a month before Amorim's appointment, but Mendes (at Paris Saint-Germain), Nunes (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Pedro Porro (Tottenham Hotspur), Manuel Ugarte (also at PSG) and Joao Palhinha (Fulham). ) are among the talented players Amorim developed before being sold for high fees.

Title winning certificate? tick Fielding young players? tick Improve individual player performance? tick There is a reason Amorim is so sought after among Europe's elite.

(Erwin Sscheriau/APA/AFP via Getty Images)