SPORTING LISBON have confirmed receiving an approach from Manchester United for head coach Ruben Amorim, and said the Premier League club are willing to pay the £8.3 million termination clause in his contract.

United have quickly settled on the 39-year-old as their number one choice to replace Erik ten Hag, who was sacked on Monday after Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at West Ham left his side 14th in the league.

In a statement to Portugal’s financial regulator, the CMVM, today, 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,” the statement said.

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

Sporting were due to face Nacional in the Portuguese league cup, the Taca da Liga, last 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.