Sporting Lisbon confirm Manchester United willing to meet Ruben Amorim release clause

Sporting Lisbon have confirmed Manchester United have registered their interest in paying the €10 million release clause for their manager Ruben Amorim.

The 39-year-old looks set to replace Erik ten Tag following the Premier League club's decision to sack the Dutchman yesterday.

In a statement to Portugal's financial regulator, the CMVM, on Tuesday, Sporting gave notice to investors of the approach from United and signalled an expectation that a deal is likely to be completed.

"Manchester United FC has expressed an interest in hiring coach Ruben Amorim, with the Board of Directors of Sporting SAD referring to the terms and conditions set out in the employment contract in force between the Company and the coach, specifically the respective termination clause and the amount of €10,000,000.00," the statement said.

"Manchester United FC has expressed an interest in paying Sporting SAD the amount of the aforementioned clause."

Sporting are due to face Nacional in the Portuguese league cup, the Taca da Liga, on Tuesday night - a match now expected to be Amorim's last in charge.

Amorim has won two Portuguese titles and two League Cups with Sporting since joining the club in March 2020.

Amorim has recently been suggested as a possible successor to Pep Guardiola given his links with City's incoming director of football Hugo Viana, although the Premier League champions have downplayed those links as mere speculation.

United's controversial 2-1 defeat at West Ham, in which Jarrod Bowen's disputed late penalty proved decisive, was the final straw for Ten Hag. Speculation over the Dutchman's future had regained intensity in recent weeks after the 54-year-old remained in the role at the end of last season.

A club statement shortly before noon