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Manchester United have agreed to pay a higher fee than Ruben Amorim’s release clause in order to secure the Sporting manager as soon as possible, as well as allowing him to bring his coaching staff with him to Old Trafford.
The Telegraph reveals the 39-year-old’s contract at the José Alvalade Stadium contains a €10 million release clause, but United are willing to “pay 12 million euros (£10.05 million) compensation” – €2 million more than required.
This extra money is believed to “cover the release of Amorim’s backroom staff to work alongside him at Old Trafford.”
Amorim’s contract also requires a thirty-day notice period which Sporting have been “demanding money to cover” in order to allow the coach to swap Lisbon for Manchester as soon as possible.
The Liga Portugal champions, who are currently top of the table this season with an imperious nine wins from nine matches, are perturbed by such a drastic change at a crucial point in their season.
The Telegraph reveals, “one of Sporting’s complaints is that they have been left in the lurch and need to find a new coach at a critical time of the season.”
The fact that Amorim may be joined by as “many as five staff with him to Old Trafford, including assistants Carlos Fernandes, Adelio Candido and Emanuel Ferro, goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital and fitness coach Paulo Barreira” only strengthens this argument.
Amorim accepts he may “have to wait to join United” after an agreement was reached quickly with the Red Devils on Monday, following the news of Erik ten Hag’s dismissal from Old Trafford following a dismal start to the season.
It’s “expected” that the 39-year-old will remain in place at Sporting for their next three games, which includes hosting United’s local rivals Manchester City in the Champions League, to allow the Portuguese club to find a suitable replacement.
It’s a testament to INEOS’ belief in Amorim as their long-term managerial choice that they are willing to overspend in order to secure his services, as well as his trusted lieutenants, as soon as possible.
It repeats a similar approach for Dan Ashworth as INEOS searched for a new Sporting Director to lead their revolution at Old Trafford, with United eventually agreeing a deal with Newcastle for the executive after an aggressive pursuit of the 53-year-old.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who gained full control over the football operation at United in February, had first instructed his team to focus on constructing a ‘best-in-class’ executive structure. This included Ashworth, but also Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox as the club’s new Chief Executive and Technical Director respectively.
Now, the club has set his sights on a ‘best-in-class’ managerial appointment after a clean break from a coach inherited from the previous regime in Ten Hag. Amorim is INEOS’ man and they appear willing to pay whatever it takes to get him.
Featured image Octavio Passos via Getty Images
