Manchester United are working on a deal to appoint Sporting Lisbon's Ruben Amorim as their new head coach.
Sources in Portugal, speaking anonymously as they're not authorised to discuss the matter, have told The Athletic the 39-year-old is open to taking up the opportunity after Erik ten Hag was sacked earlier on Monday.
United are ready to pay the €10million (£8.3m) release clause in his contract with the two clubs in talks to finalise a deal that could see Ruud van Nistelrooy take interim charge before Amorim's arrival.
Amorim has emerged as one of Europe's most sought-after young managers after a run of success with the Portuguese club with United moving quickly after making him their No 1 target to be Ten Hag's replacement.
He was in contention to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool before Arne Slot ultimate got the job and also held talks over replacing David Moyes at West Ham, before later apologising and calling the meeting "a mistake".
He won the Primeira Liga title in 2021 and again last season while also winning the Taca da Liga — the Portuguese League Cup — on two occasions with Sporting and a third time with his previous club, Braga.
He has also built a reputation as a coach known for fielding young players and improving individual player performance.
A midfielder in his playing career, Amorim was a three-time league champion with Benfica and won 14 caps for the Portugal national team.
Ten Hag was appointed in April 2022 and went on to lead the club to the League Cup title in his first season in charge as well as the FA Cup in May.
The former Ajax head coach was retained as United manager in the summer following an end-of-season review by the club's hierarchy but only after they had sounded out potential replacements including now 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 with Chelsea on Sunday, before meetings with three of the current bottom five in Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Everton over the next month.
They also have two Europa League games, against PAOK and Bodo/Glimt. They currently sit 21st in the new-look European competition's league phase after failing to win any of their opening three matches.
