Ugarte spent two seasons under Amorim at Sporting (Picture: Getty)

Manchester United are closing in on Ruben Amorim in a move that would reunite the Portuguese coach with his former midfielder Manuel Ugarte.

Sporting Lisbon confirmed on Tuesday that United are ready to meet Amorim?s £8.3million release clause having made him their top target to replace Erik ten Hag.

United captain Bruno Fernandes has made no secret of his admiration for his compatriot having previously backed him to be a major success in English football.

Summer signing Ugarte, who could be involved in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup game vs Leicester, will be another eager to welcome Amorim to Old Trafford after their two seasons together at Sporting.
The Uruguay international joined Sporting for a modest fee of £4.5m from another Portuguese club in Famalicao in August 2021, initially brought in to provide cover for Joao Palhinha in the middle of the park. Amorim?s trust in him grew however and by December that year, he was selected to start ahead of the Portugal international in the derby victory against Benfica.

?Ugarte has already proven that he is ready to be number six this season,? Amorim said. ?We all sleep much more peacefully in the coaching team, because last year [Joao] Palhinha suffered a lot of wear and tear.

?Now, if Palhinha fails, we are more relaxed, because we have a player of great quality and with more similar characteristics. He is a great player and a great signing for Sporting...