Man Utd manager news LIVE: Ruben Amorim release clause triggered after Erik ten Hag sacked

Manchester United have registered an interest in hiring Ruben Amorim and paying the Sporting Lisbon manager’s release clause, the Portuguese club have confirmed.

After sacking Erik ten Hag on Monday, the Red Devils have moved quickly to identify the Portuguese as the next manager at Old Trafford.

And in an official statement, Sporting have notified the Portuguese financial regulator, with the club listed on the stock market, of United’s position as negotiations continue.

The Portuguese club said: “Manchester United have registered an interest in hiring Rúben Amorim and paying his €10 million release clause.”

Amorim could now be in place by the time United face Chelsea in Sunday’s Premier League match.

A big criticism during the Ten Hag era was that there was no identity to his United side and it was a mystery as to how they would set up from one game to the next. The new manager must change that and provide a team with an obvious personality and defined character – preferably one that attacks and plays on the front foot.

It is the most obvious place to start, but Amorim will be expected to turn results around quickly. Ten Hag was ultimately fired because he was simply not winning enough games and the new man must hit the ground running. He will inherit a side 14th in the Premier League after four defeats from their opening nine games and struggling in the Europa League.

What can we expect from Amorim, and how quickly can he realistically turn things around for the struggling giant?

And with over £180 million already spent in the summer transfer window, should we expect further spending in January under new management?

If you have questions about Ten Hag’s sacking, Amorim’s appointment or the future of Manchester United, submit them here for The Independent’s chief football writer Miguel Delaney.

Ruben Amorim is set become the next manager of Manchester United, with the 39-year-old set to finally take the next step in his coaching career after being linked with some of the biggest jobs in Europe as a result of his impressive work at Sporting Lisbon.

The Portuguese is in line to replace Erik ten Hag with United signalling their intent to pay Sporting over his release fee. United’s football operations department placed Amorim at the top of their list and have convinced the 39-year-old to leave Sporting mid-season.

If United are successful, they will appoint a manager who has been one of the most in-demand coaches in Europe over the last year.

Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of Manchester United’s Carabao Cup tie against Leicester City tomorrow in their first match since the sacking of Erik ten Hag.

The former United striker has been placed in interim charge while a permanent head coach is appointed and talks with Ruben Amorim continue.

Ten Hag was sacked after United made their worst ever start to a Premier League season and with the club 14th in the table, having won just once in eight games.

United, though, will look to return to winning ways in the Carabao Cup and reach the quarter-finals when they host Leicester at Old Trafford.

On Rene Meulensteen’s belief that Manchester United have lost the ability to dominate possession, Ruben Amorim’s Sporting top the Primeira Liga in terms of possession with 65.4 percent.

That time on the ball is hardly sterile, either, with Sporting averaging 24.9 shots per game, according to WhoScored.com.

The next highest team is Benfica on 18.3 shots per game, with Porto on 15.6 shots per game.

After Sporting’s statement, Ruben Amorim appears a step closer to becoming the next Manchester United manager with the Times reporting that his released clause has now in fact been triggered.

The fee is €10m (£8.3m), with negotiations advancing and the prospect of Amorim in the dugout for Sunday’s match at Old Trafford with Chelsea.

Tonight the Portuguese coach is in charge of Sporting as they face Nacional in the League Cup, which kicks off 20:15 GMT.

Manchester United transfers 24/25

2) Manuel Ugarte – €50m

3) Matthijs de Ligt – €45m

4) Joshua Zirkzee – €42.5m

5) Noussair Mazraoui – €15m

Sporting Lisbon host Nacional in the quarter-finals of the Portuguese league cup tonight, in what is expected to be Ruben Amorim’s final game as manager.

It’s set to be an emotional farewell, with Amorim leading Sporting to two league titles during his four years in charge of the Lisbon club.

He broke the club’s 19-year title drought by getting the better of rivals Benfica and Porto.