MANCHESTER UNITED may have to wait “a number of weeks” before signing Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim as their new manager.
Sporting all but confirmed United will poach Amorim after announcing the Premier League giants will pay his €10million (£8.3m) release clause.
Talks between Man Utd and Sporting have hit a snag regarding Amorim’s notice period[/caption]
The Lisbon giants never confirmed whether they accepted the Red Devils’ advances in a letter to the Portuguese stock exchange but reports suggested it’s only a matter of time until a deal is finalised.
According to The Mail, however, talks have hit a snag regarding the Portuguese tactician’s notice period, which will last several weeks.
United are happy to meet the 39-year-old head coach’s clause but are currently negotiating when he can start.
Therefore, Amorim will probably not be in the dugout when the Premier League giants host Chelsea on Sunday.
In fact, the Sporting boss may not take charge until Man Utd visit Ipswich on November 24.
Thus, interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy will be in charge against Leicester in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday in the Last 16 at Old Trafford.
Van Nistelrooy may also be in the dugout for the game with Chelsea, the Europa League encounter at home against PAOK and the Premier League clash with the Foxes on November 10 at Old Trafford.
Therefore, Amorim may not assume his new position until after the international break, meaning club chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe may not get his man for another four weeks.
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Sporting issued the following statement: “Manchester United 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 10m Euros.
“Manchester United has expressed an interest in paying Sporting SAD the amount of the aforementioned clause.”
Amorim broke his silence on the likelihood of taking over at Old Trafford during a press conference on Monday.
He said: “I was already expecting this question [about Man Utd] and obviously I’m not going to talk about the future, because otherwise I’ll always have to comment.
“I’m very proud to be Sporting coach, that’s all.”
United sacked Erik ten Hag after a run of poor performances and results which led to the club’s worst ever start in the Premier League era.
