Manchester United's pursuit of a new manager has been thrown into disarray after a dramatic breakdown in talks with top target Ruben Amorim. The Sporting CP boss, widely seen as the prime candidate to replace the under-fire Erik ten Hag, is now expected to remain in Portugal, leaving the Red Devils' hierarchy scrambling for a Plan B.
The news comes as a crushing blow to United's new minority owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and his INEOS team, who had identified the 39-year-old Amorim as the ideal figure to lead their ambitious Old Trafford rebuild. The collapse of negotiations plunges the club's summer planning into chaos and raises further questions about the future of current boss Ten Hag.
Ten Hag's Fate Hangs in the Balance
Despite the failure to secure Amorim, the pressure on Erik ten Hag remains immense. The Dutchman is fighting to save his job after a dismal Premier League campaign that sees United languishing in sixth place. A review of his position is scheduled for after the season concludes with the FA Cup final against Manchester City.
However, the club's decision-makers are now faced with a stark dilemma: stick with a manager they have clearly been sounding out replacements for, or pivot to other, less favoured options. This uncertainty is creating a deeply unstable environment at the club's Carrington training ground.
An Injury Crisis Compounding the Chaos
To make matters worse, United's on-field woes are being exacerbated by a relentless injury crisis. A staggering eight first-team players were absent from the squad that was humiliated 4-0 by Crystal Palace on Monday night.
The defensive unit has been decimated, with key figures like:
- Harry Maguire: Sustained a muscle injury, ruling him out for three weeks.
- Bruno Fernandes: A major doubt for the upcoming Arsenal clash after missing the Palace defeat.
- Raphaël Varane, Lisandro Martínez, Victor Lindelöf, and Jonny Evans: All sidelined, leaving the backline in tatters.
- Scott McTominay: Also a fitness concern ahead of the final games.
This unprecedented spate of injuries has left Ten Hag, or whoever is in charge, with a monumental task to salvage any pride from the remainder of the season and secure European football.
What's Next for United?
With Amorim out of the picture, attention will inevitably turn to other candidates. England manager Gareth Southgate has also been linked with the role, but his focus remains on the Euros this summer.
For now, the Glazers and INEOS are back to square one, their grand plans for a new era undermined before they've even begun. The only certainty at Old Trafford is that a long and turbulent summer lies ahead.
