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Manchester United dispensing with the services of Erik ten Hag started what some expected to be a prolonged search for a new manager.

Ruud van Nistelrooy was announced the interim coach and it wouldn’t have been a great surprise had he been in such a role until the end of the current season.

However, Manchester United were working behind the scenes and Rúben Amorim is now on the verge of taking the permanent position.

On Monday, The Athletic and multiple Portuguese sources reported Amorim was first choice and edging closer to taking the role.

His release clause is €20m, however, it falls to €10m if one of a certain few huge clubs make a move for him. Thankfully for Manchester United, that isn’t a Champions League clause, or similar.

Tuesday’s edition of Record reports Amorim is ‘one small step away’ from taking the job at Old Trafford.

To make absolutely clear how close they see it as, it’s best to quote them directly: ‘At the closing time of this edition, the probability of Rúben Amorim heading to United was very high, following a day of intense contacts that brought positions closer and gave strength to a scenario that in the early afternoon seemed no more than a rumour.’

Record also state João Pereira, the current coach of Sporting B, is being considered as Amorim’s replacement.

When it comes to talking about the background of the deal, they drag in Pini Zahavi.

Amorim is represented by Raul Costa, but Zahavi has apparently been working behind the scenes to convince Manchester United in recent weeks.

One of the angles the agent used was Manchester City potentially moving to appoint Amorim themselves.