Manchester United are in talks to try and appoint Ruben Amorim, with the Sporting head coach understood to be considering the opportunity to replace Erik ten Hag. The Old Trafford hierarchy have put the 39-year-old top of their list, having not considered him during the summer. They are also willing to negotiate with the Portuguese club about a release fee that is within the region of €10m (£8.3m).

United are seeking to impress on Amorim the opportunity that the job presents and there has been considerable progress on talks, to the point that Amorim’s coaching staff has been discussed.

Amorim had been reluctant to leave Sporting mid-season but interest has grown since the start of the campaign. The Portuguese has restored the club to glory, and already has them clear at the top of the table in what would be a third title, after 2020-21 and 2023-24.

This has attracted the interest of virtually every elite club in Europe, with Liverpool having been close to the appointment before Arne Slot in the summer, and Manchester City earmarking him as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola. Talk on the latter has increased given that City are appointing Sporting’s director of football Hugo Viana as Txiki Begiristain’s successor at the end of the season.

There is nevertheless considerable uncertainty as regards that opportunity for Amorim, with Guardiola still considering the option of another year, but also the possibility of City’s short-term future being disrupted due to the hearing. The club insist upon their innocence.

United are understood to have raised such uncertainties. There is currently a cautious optimism a deal can be done, following the dismissal of Ten Hag after two-and-a-half years in charge.