Sporting Lisbon are determined not to let Ruben Amorim head to Manchester United until after the international break, according to reports in Portugal.
The manager has emerged as the frontrunner in the race to succeed Erik ten Hag in the Red Devils post, after the Dutchman was finally dismissed as boss on Monday following months of uncertainty.
On Tuesday, Sporting released a statement confirming United’s plan to pay the €10million (£8.5m) release clause to buy Amorim out of his contract.
However, one significant sticking point which has emerged over the last 24 hours is the matter of when the Portuguese can make the switch to the Premier League side, with Mail Sport revealing that he could be required to serve a lengthy notice period.
Portuguese reports add that the manager could be forced to stay for up to 30 days after his release clause is triggered and the side look likely to exercise this option.
Sporting Lisbon are determined not to let Ruben Amorim head to Manchester United until after the international break.
This means the coach might still be in the dug-out for his current team’s Champions League clash with Manchester City on November 5.
These reports were backed up the BBC, who reported that interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy was set to carry out media duties for United ahead of Sunday’s Premier League game against Chelsea.
This means it is unlikely that Amorim would be in charge for that clash, which had been United’s original hope when they entered into discussions with Sporting.
Sporting are also looking to make it tricky for the Premier League giants to raid Sporting of their entire coaching staff, with officials demanding another €5m (£4.3m) for Amorim’s assistants to join him.