Sporting has announced that Manchester United has shown interest in covering the release clause for manager Ruben Amorim.

**Ten Hag’s Departure Sparks United’s Interest in Amorim; Guardiola Expresses Sympathy**

In a dramatic turn of events at Old Trafford, Manchester United have set their sights on Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim following the sacking of Erik ten Hag. The Portuguese club has confirmed that United are willing to activate Amorim’s release clause, which stands at €10 million (£8.3 million).

The announcement comes after a dismal start to the Premier League season for United, who currently find themselves languishing in 14th place. They have secured just three victories from their opening nine matches. The club’s struggles have also extended to European competition, where they sit 21st out of 36 teams in the UEFA Europa League, having drawn all three of their initial fixtures.

Sporting CP released a statement on Tuesday, confirming United’s interest: “Manchester United FC expressed 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 for the respective termination clause and for the amount of Euro 10 million.”

Amorim, who has been linked with the Liverpool job in the past, has enjoyed considerable success since taking the reins at Sporting in 2020. He has led the club to two Liga Portugal titles, including their first in 19 years.

In the wake of Ten Hag’s dismissal, former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has been appointed as interim manager. Van Nistelrooy, who scored an impressive 150 goals in 219 appearances for the club between 2001 and 2006, will take charge of the upcoming Carabao Cup tie against Leicester City on Wednesday.

Looking ahead, United’s next Premier League clash is set for Sunday, where they will face Chelsea at Old Trafford.

On Monday, Amorim acknowledged the speculation surrounding his potential move to United but refrained from commenting further, stating he was not prepared to discuss the matter. His focus remains on his current side, who are set to compete against Nacional in the Portuguese League Cup on Tuesday.

As the managerial merry-go-round continues, Pep Guardiola has expressed his sympathy for Ten Hag, highlighting the challenges faced by managers in the modern game. With the pressure mounting at Old Trafford, all eyes will be on whether Amorim will make the switch to Manchester and how Van Nistelrooy will fare in his interim role.