Next Liverpool manager: Ruben Amorim U-turn to be confirmed THIS WEEKEND
Ruben Amorim was at one stage the firm favourite to take over from Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager.
The 39-year-old Sporting CP boss is on the cusp of winning his second Liga Portugal title, with his side requiring only two more wins from their remaining four fixtures to seal top spot.
They could even wrap up the title this weekend away at the Estadio do Dragao, home to bitter rivals Porto.
Amorim has been inundated with questions from the media in recent weeks surrounding his future, all of which he has attempted to defer to the end of the season.
The ex-midfielder has a contract in Lisbon until 2026 with it believed to contain a €15 million release clause for interested overseas parties.
It appeared inevitable that Amorim would move to Anfield but events this week have turned the Liverpool managerial search upside down.
Along with his agent, Amorim flew to London on Monday to hold talks with West Ham over becoming their new manager.
The Hammers are reported to have offered him more than he could have earned at Liverpool, with Amorim also seeking significant control over the club’s transfer business.
He flew back to Lisbon early on Tuesday morning to a throng of waiting media who were none the wiser as to his future plans, where the only public utterance he made was “See you Saturday” in reference to his pre-Porto media duties.
Amorim’s Sporting U-turn
And in a stunning twist it has now emerged that Amorim is planning to stay with Sporting.
An official decision is expected to be communicated on Saturday, according to reports on Portuguese television channel RTP.
It would cap a remarkable turnaround for one of the most in-demand managers in Europe and a stance which would correspond to Xabi Alonso’s decision to remain with Bayer Leverkusen and Julian Nagelsmann’s new Germany contract.
Liverpool have moved on from Amorim, with Arne Slot now the favourite for the Anfield hotseat and the Reds having opened talks with his club Feyenoord.