Sporting are determined for Amorim to remain in charge for their next three games before the November hiatus, prompting a tug-of-war with United.
Amorim is thought to be wary of leaving Sporting in the lurch and keen to respect his club’s position, which has raised the prospect of him still being in their dug-out when United’s bitter local rivals Manchester City visit the Jose Alvalade Stadium in the Champions League next Tuesday.
The City match is sandwiched in between league games against Estrela on Friday and Braga on Sunday week.
Sporting confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that they have been approached by United about appointing Amorim after sacking Erik ten Hag, with a willingness from the Premier League side to meet the £8.3 million release clause in the 39-year-old’s contract.
Reports in Portugal have claimed Sporting are open to releasing Amorim before a 30-day notice period in his contract but not immediately and are aiming to retain his services for their next three matches.
Such a scenario would mean Amorim not taking charge of United until they travel to Ipswich Town on November 24 after the international break, provided a full agreement is reached with Sporting before then.
There have also been claims in Portugal that some of Sporting’s players are unhappy about the prospect of Amorim walking out after nine league games of the season and that the manager is fully aware of the dressing-room sentiment.
United would like Amorim in place at the earliest opportunity but may be forced to sit tight for now. No deal has been finalised as yet.
Omar Berrada, the United chief executive who has been a driving force behind the pursuit of Amorim, was at Old Trafford on Wednesday night to watch the club’s first game since Ten Hag was sacked on Monday.
Ruud van Nistelrooy was on the touchline for the Carabao Cup tie against Leicester City at Old Trafford after being placed in interim charge.
United are due to face Chelsea at home on Sunday before playing PAOK Salonika of Greece in the Europa League and then Leicester in the league at Old Trafford on Sunday week in their final game before the international break and there is a chance Van Nistelrooy could yet be in the dug-out for those games, too.
Speaking after Sporting’s 3-1 win over Nacional in the Portuguese League Cup quarter-final on Tuesday night, Amorim was reluctant to say too much for fear of “only creating more noise”.
“There’s nothing to talk about. There’s the club statement, everyone knows about it. It was said by the club. For the rest, we don’t know the exact details. We’ll see …,” he said.
“I can’t promise anything. What I do know is that I’ll be at training [on Wednesday] and I’ll be preparing for the league game with Estrela da Amadora on Friday.”