Ruben Amorim, the manager of Sporting Lisbon, has been linked with a potential move to Manchester United, who are reportedly willing to activate his release clause set at 10 million euros (approximately £8.3 million). This development comes following the dismissal of Erik ten Hag after a disappointing start to the Premier League season, which saw United sitting in 14th place with only three wins from nine matches.

Sporting Lisbon confirmed Manchester United’s interest through a statement to Portugal’s financial authority, CMVM. Amorim, who is just 39 years old, has gained recognition for his coaching prowess, having led Sporting to two league titles since taking over in 2020, including their first championship in nearly two decades. Despite the speculation surrounding his future, Manchester United has opted not to comment on the reports regarding Amorim.

The situation at Manchester United deteriorated further after Ten Hag was sacked following a 2-1 defeat against West Ham. Additionally, the team is currently struggling in European competition, sitting at 21st out of 36 teams in the Europa League after three draws in their initial matches. In light of Ten Hag’s departure, Ruud van Nistelrooy has stepped in as interim manager and will oversee the upcoming EFL Cup match against Leicester City.

During a press conference on Monday, Amorim anticipated questions about the Manchester United job but was reluctant to discuss it. Meanwhile, his current team is set to face Nacional in the Portuguese League Cup shortly. Amorim’s contract with Sporting extends until June 2026; he previously engaged in talks with West Ham earlier this year but chose to remain at Sporting after apologizing for those discussions.

Amorim acknowledges that he is continually enhancing his coaching techniques and emphasizes that football should be entertaining for spectators. He draws inspiration from esteemed coaches like Jorge Jesus and José Mourinho while advocating for an exciting style of play characterized by offensive strategies and high-scoring matches.

As Manchester United grapples with internal challenges and strives for improvement in recruitment and performance identity, Amorim’s potential appointment may signal a shift towards a more dynamic approach under new leadership.