Amorim promises Man Utd decision after Sporting match

Manchester United's managerial target Ruben Amorim has promised to clarify his future coaching plans after Sporting Lisbon's next Portuguese league match.

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Sporting boss Amorim spoke at a news conference on the eve of the league leaders' match against  Estrela da Amadora on Friday as his side seek to start their title defence with a 10th straight win.

"After the game tomorrow, we will have the decision made," Amorim said. "It will be very clear, so it's one more day."

The 39-year-old coach's growing reputation and two Portuguese league titles in four seasons has attracted United, who fired Erik ten Hag on Monday with the team 14th in the English Premier League.

Sporting later released a statement to the Lisbon Stock Exchange saying United were interested in paying the release clause in Amorim's contract worth 10 million euros ($A17 million) in his contract.

"It is a negotiation between two clubs," Amorim said on Thursday. "It's never easy. Even with the clauses it's never easy, they have to talk."

Reports in English and Portuguese media suggest Amorim will move to Manchester during the next break for national team games. That would make his first Man United game the November 24 fixture at Ipswich.

One of Amorim's likely final games with Sporting will be to host Manchester City on Tuesday in the Champions League.

Amorim had been linked to joining Man City, where Pep Guardiola has not publicly committed to renewing a contract that expires after the season.

Man City's next director of football, Hugo Viana, will join from Sporting after this season.

Man United were led by interim coach Ruud van Nistelrooy on Wednesday and beat Leicester 5-2 in the English League Cup.

Van Nistelrooy, a former Man United star striker who returned in the off-season to assist his Dutch compatriot ten Hag, seems set to coach the team for three more home games - Chelsea on Sunday, PAOK in the Europa League, and Leicester on November 10.

Australian Associated Press

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