- Manchester United have already held two rounds of talks with Ruben Amorim
- Sporting is reportedly already prepared with Amorim’s successor in line
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Sporting Lisbon have reportedly identified Ruben Amorim’s successor should their manager complete a move to Manchester United.
Man United entered into discussions for Amorim on Monday after the Red Devils announced the dismissal of Erik ten Hag.
Mail Sport revealed last week that Amorim was one of four targets if Ten Hag was dropped, and United announced on Monday morning that the Dutchman’s two-and-a-half-year reign at Old Trafford was over.
The 39-year-old, who was interviewed about the vacancies at Liverpool and West Ham earlier this year, is said to be open to a move to Old Trafford.
It is understood that Amorim planned to leave Sporting at the end of the season.
Man United are in talks with Sporting Lisbon to appoint Ruben Amorim as their new manager
Joao Pereira, right, who played under Amorim in 2021, is expected to take charge at Sporting
Amorim was informed of United’s interest earlier this month and has had two rounds of discussions.
Sporting have reportedly already lined up Amorim’s successor, with the club currently at the top of the Primeira Liga having won their opening nine games.
The Portuguese giants are expected to appoint Joao Pereira to take charge of the team A Bola.
The club said the club already has precautionary plans in place to remove Pereira from his role as manager of the club’s B team.
Pereira had three spells as a player with Sporting during his career, joining their title-winning team under Amorim in 2021 as a right-back.
Amorim had spoken about Pereira’s prospects of becoming a sports coach in the future.
Pereira played as a right back under Amorim during his third spell as a player at the club
He was part of Sporting’s title-winning squad before becoming coach at the end of the season
Pereira became head coach of Sporting Lisbon’s B team at the beginning of this season
“Joao Pereira is making his mark, I think he is an excellent coach,” Amorim said in May.
‘He has all the conditions to become coach of Sporting.’
Pereira would be tasked with continuing Sporting’s success under Amorim, who guided the club to two league titles and two Portuguese League Cup victories.
Sporting is currently in a good position in the Champions League after three games, having won two and drawn one of the first three games.
The Portuguese giants are currently eighth in the revamped competition stage, putting them in a qualifying spot in the early stages of the competition.