Manchester United appear to have picked the top choice to replace Erik ten Hag – and it promises to be an expensive deal.
Ineos are in the process of appointing their first manager having axed Erik ten Hag on Monday morning.
Manchester United lost 2-1 at West Ham United on Sunday, but the decision to sack Ten Hag was not made off the back of just one result.
United continue to struggle for consistency in the Premier League and have still taken just three points from three Europa League games.
Ten Hag can point to two trophies he won as United boss, but the performance levels simply weren’t good enough.
Ineos have decided to go in a different direction, arguably four or five months too late, but their top target is now emerging.
- READ MORE: Bruno Fernandes breaks silence first as Erik ten Hag is sacked as Manchester United manager
Confusion surrounds Ruben Amorim fee
Reports breaking on Monday evening suggest that Sporting boss Ruben Amorim has ‘verbally’ agreed to become the new United boss.
It was suggested that United just need to pay compensation for Amorim and the original value was suggested as being just €10million (£8.3million).
However, Portuguese reporter Pedro Sepulveda now claims that Amorim’s release clause from Sporting is actually much more expensive.
Sepulveda claims that Amorim’s release clause actually stands at €20million (£16.6million).
That is double the price initially reported and United will have to cough up big money for Amorim – just after paying off Ten Hag to leave.
The situation has only become more confusing though with Portuguese newspaper A Bola suggesting that Amorim’s release clause is actually tiered.
It’s stated that Portuguese clubs need to pay €30million (£25million) for Amorim whilst clubs around Europe are ordered to pay the £16.6million mentioned earlier.
However, there is thought to be an option for Amorim to join a European ‘giant’ for just €10million (£8.3million) – and that includes United.
That would certainly be ideal for United after paying considerable cash to sack Ten Hag on Monday and the cheaper price tag will seemingly tempt Ineos into a firm push.
Where Amorim would rank in most expensive managers
If United can land Amorim for £8.3million, it would match the price Sporting paid to lure him away from Braga in 2020.
Not many managers have moved for more money over the years, which is why Sporting’s move was such a notable moment in Portuguese football.
TEAMtalk note that Brendan Rodgers moved from Celtic to Leicester City for nearly £9million in 2019 whilst Arne Slot’s recent move from Feyenoord to Liverpool was even more expensive.
The top five includes Enzo Maresca from Leicester City to Chelsea, Vincent Kompany from Burnley to Bayern Munich, Andre Villas-Boas from Porto to Chelsea, Graham Potter from Brighton and Hove Albion to Chelsea and, finally, Julian Nagelsmann from RB Leipzig to Bayern.
The higher price for Amorim would put him third in the list but United could land a relative bargain – if Ineos can get a firm commitment from the Portuguese coach.
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