Ruben Amorim is in advanced talks to take charge of Manchester United (Picture: Getty)

Peter Schmeichel says he is ‘convinced’ Ruben Amorim is a ‘great candidate’ for Manchester United – but only if the Sporting manager is ready to take charge immediately.

United parted ways with Erik ten Hag on Monday on the back of a miserable run of results for the Old Trafford giants, with assistant manager Ruud van Nistelrooy stepping in to take over the reins as interim boss.

The search for Ten Hag’s permanent successor is already well underway and Amorim – widely regarded as one of the finest young coaches in European football – is in advanced discussions over a proposed switch to the north west.
Amorim, 39, is thought to be keen to push through a move to the Theatre of Dreams and Sporting confirmed this afternoon that United had agreed to pay the Portuguese’s ?10million (£8.3m) release clause in full.

Manchester City have also been credited with an interest in Amorim in recent weeks, with Pep Guardiola yet to commit his future to the Premier League champions beyond the end of the season.

On Amorim, United legend Schmeichel told BBC Sport: ‘Is he going to leave Sporting now because it’s Manchester United or is he going to stay [at Sporting] until the end of the season"’

‘He’s a great candidate and I’m convinced about that. If he’s going to stay until the end of the season, he...