Manchester United news as Ruben Amorim's future continues to be discussed with an update on his replacement and compensation
Josh is a Senior Football Writer for Reach PLC's Central Audience Team. Having previously spent over a year at football.london as a trends writer, Josh has experience covering Leicester City for the Leicester Mercury. You can find Josh's work across Reach PLC sides such as Manchester Evening News, football.london, Liverpool Echo, LeedsLive and many more.
Ruben Amorim
Man United boss Ruben Amorim(Image: Getty Images)
It's no surprise that after just four games in the Premier League season, questions are being asked of Ruben Amorim's future at Manchester United. After failing to stop United's worst season in 51 years, Amorim had to get off to a stormer this campaign.
Over £200million was spent in the summer bringing in players who fitted the Portuguese's 3-4-2-1 system, and early signs of improvement were needed. However, that has not yet materialised.
United have managed just one win in their first four games against newly-promoted side Burnley, and even that came via an injury-time penalty from Bruno Fernandes. As well as losing the first Manchester derby of the season against Manchester City, the Reds crashed out of the Carabao Cup to League Two side Grimsby Town.
The spotlight is on Amorim now more than ever, and pressure will increase if United lose against Chelsea on Saturday. So, with that in mind, The Manchester Evening News brings you the latest on the future of the United boss, including potential replacements.
Five names on radar
With a record of just eight wins from 31 Premier League games, Amorim shouldn't be surprised that his future is in doubt. Although the club hierarchy insists the head coach retains their full backing, The Mirror have reported that there are five candidates to replace the Portuguese according to the bookmakers.
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, Gareth Southgate, Fulham's Marco Silva and Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola are all on their radar. Current USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino is also in the frame should Amorim exit.
The report also states that those at the top of Old Trafford will assess the situation and the team's trajectory after the next three games. They take on Chelsea, Brentford, and Sunderland before the next international break.
Gareth Southgate, manager of England applauds after the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying round group C match between England and North Macedonia at Old Trafford
Gareth Southgate was once hotly tipped to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United
MEN Sport says: "It's fair to say that the reaction to these names speaks volumes. Southgate is a name Ineos are known to like. Pochettino has also been linked before to Glasner. Iraola and Silva all fit the mould of 'hopeful' appointments.
"After failing with Ten Hag, United would repeat previous mistakes by sacking one manager with another with some sort of risk attached."
Hefty compensation
The Daily Mail reported that United would have to cough up £12million if they decide to axe Amorim. The Portuguese signed a two-and-a-half-year contract when he replaced Erik ten Hag, and should he be axed before the one-year anniversary on November 1, United would face paying a hefty fee.
The deadline is in seven weeks, and Amorim's coaching staff is understood to be in line for a pay-off. The club has already paid over £54m in compensation to five previous bosses, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer receiving the most at £10.5m.
Furthermore, the report states that several figures close to the United first-team are increasingly concerned about his continued nature to hide 'when the going gets tough' in matches.
MEN Sport says: "For a club that failed to qualify for Europe and has known financial problems, United's constant approval of manager sackings and costly compensations is not a good look.
"It goes back to what was previously said, United have to, if they sack Amorim, get his replacement spot on to avoid being in a similar situation."
Here at The Manchester Evening News, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don't miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.
You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories.
And, finally, if you would rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Manchester is Red podcast, featuring The Samuel Luckhurst Show and The Midweek Debate. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.