Amorim took charge of Sporting on Tuesday night as planned (Picture: Getty Images)

Ruben Amorim has offered a cryptic update on his future after Sporting Lisbon confirmed Manchester United have approached them and are ready to pay his ?10million (£8.3m) release clause.

Amorim, 39, has emerged as the leading contender to replace Erik ten Hag who was sacked by the Premier League club on Monday.

While Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of Wednesday?s Carabao Cup game against Leicester City, United hope to bring in a permanent replacement as early as this week.

With Amorim thought to be keen to take over at Old Trafford, the Portuguese giants have now confirmed United are ready to pay up to make the move happen.

A statement released on Tuesday said: ?Manchester United FC has expressed an interest in hiring coach Rúben Amorim, and the Board of Directors of Sporting SAD has referred to the terms and conditions set out in the employment contract in force between the Company and the coach, specifically the respective termination clause and the amount of Euro 10,000,000.00;
?Manchester United FC has expressed an interest in paying Sporting SAD the amount of the aforementioned clause.?

Reports in Portugal claim Amorim is now ‘one step away’ from becoming the next United manager, but the Sporting boss took charge of the Taca de Liga meeting with Nacional on Tuesday night and says it may not be his last game in his current role.

‘Nobody knows if it was a f...