Ruben Amorim might be keeping his cards as close to his chest as possible, but the mask still slipped during his press conference on Thursday.
The Sporting Lisbon boss, all set to replace Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford following his sacking earlier this week, was peppered with questions about his prospective switch as he faced the media ahead of Sporting’s clash with Estrela da Amadora on Friday night.
The Portuguese coach, whose club are locked in negotiations with United officials over when he will move and how much its going to cost on top of his £8.3million release clause to bring in trusted members of his coaching staff, attempted to remain tight-lipped.
But most tellingly, as he prepared to leave, he was asked what he liked about the Premier League and, smiling, responded simply: “Everything”.
Amorim, 39, has led Sporting to two Primeira Liga titles since being prised from Braga four years ago and is gearing up to take charge at United as the first managerial appointment of the Red Devils since Sir Jim Ratcliffe took charge of footballing operations at the club.
He was quizzed on his move, but was giving little away over precisely how close it is to a deal being fully completed.
“It is a negotiation between two clubs,” he said. “It’s never easy. Even with the clauses it’s never easy, they have to talk.
“We will have clarification after the game. It will be very clear, so it’s one more day. After the game tomorrow, we will have the decision made.”
United, who beat Leicester 5-2 in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night under the interim management of Ruud Van Nistelrooy, had hoped to fast-track a deal and have Amorim in situ for this weekend’s match against Chelsea.
But having agreed to pay his release clause they have been forced into further negotiations due to a 30-day notice period in his Sporting deal.
As such, United and Sporting have reached a figure of £10million for Amorim to move immediately during the international break, allowing him to fulfil three more fixtures as Sporting boss - including the Champions League clash against Manchester City next Tuesday. Sporting then travel to play Amorim's former club, Braga, on Sunday, November 10, a match which will mark his farewell.
The ex-Portugal international looks will then be set to get the lay of the land at struggling United from November 11, with his first game at the helm will subsequently be at Ipswich Town on November 24.
United defender Diogo Dalot commented on Amorim's potential arrival on Wednesday night, stating: "Obviously he is a good manager. We do not know if he's coming or not, we see the rumours like everybody, but we will focus on what we have here. Doing our job.
"What the future brings, we will be ready."