Manchester United are currently locked in talks with Sporting Lisbon over Ruben Amorim’s notice period, which Mail Sport has learned is ‘a number of weeks’.

The Portuguese club confirmed in a statement to the market on Tuesday afternoon that they had been approached by the Premier League giants, who want to replace sacked Erik ten Hag with their highly-rated young coach.

The note added that that United had ‘expressed an interest’ in paying the 39-year-old’s release clause.

However, while United are happy to meet that clause, they are currently negotiating when Amorim can start what will be a huge job at Old Trafford.

And it can be revealed that Amorim, 39, has a notice period of ‘a number of weeks rather than days’.

Ruben Amorim’s move to Manchester United could be delayed due to his notice period

Sporting Lisbon revealed that he is on the brink of joining United after they ‘expressed interest to pay his £8.3million exit clause’

Manchester United sacked Ten Hag on Monday morning after two-and-a-half years

That means that should an agreement not be reached on an earlier termination, he will not be in the dugout when United take on Chelsea on Sunday.

Indeed, there is a prospect that Amorim, who won back-to-back titles in Portugal, could not take charge until United head to Ipswich Town on November 24th.

After facing Leicester in the EFL Cup on Wednesday evening and Chelsea on Sunday, the 14th-placed side take on the Foxes in the league on November 10.

Following that match, there is a two-week international break before the trip to Portman Road in a televised Sunday 4.30pm kick-off.

Sporting’s statement disclosed that their directors had informed United’s representatives of the terms of the 39-year-old’s contract ‘specifically the termination clause of 10,000,000 euros’ and added that United ‘expressed an interest’ in paying that valuation.