It has been claimed that Ruben Amorim has accepted in principle to take over as Manchester United’s next manager.

Amorim, 39, appears to be likely to take Erik ten Hag’s place as the Red Devils and Sporting negotiate a compensation settlement. United moved in response to Manchester City’s interest, as Amorim is the team’s top pick to succeed Pep Guardiola should he decide to depart when his contract expires.

IDENTICAL ARTICLES WITH THISEven though Amorim and City’s new sports director, Hugo Viana, have a good personal and professional relationship, United has attempted to persuade the sports coach that City will lose its sparkle if Guardiola departs next season.

City has won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, the Champions League, and the Club World Cup since Guardiola took control in 2016.

Technical director Jason Wilcox, a former coach and academy director at City, has reunited with United’s chief executive, Omar Berrada, who left City earlier this year at Old Trafford.

Having known Toby Craig at City, Berrada also hired him as head communications officer. While City mainstays Ederson, Kyle Walker, John Stones, and Bernardo Silva are approaching the last two years of their contracts, Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan have contracts that expire next year.

Earlier this year, West Ham United had an interview with Amorim. But according to the Manchester Evening News, the Hammers chose to hire Julen Lopetegui, a former Wolves and Sevilla coach.

Amorim has brought Sporting’s 19-year league title drought to an end after taking control in 2020. Manchester United executives are apparently willing to pay the €10 million compensation price that the Portuguese manager would demand, despite concerns that they might only be able to hire free agents.