Ruben Amorim due to hold Man Utd showdown talks as timeline set for sack decision

Ruben Amorim will hold showdown talks with the Manchester United hierarchy following Saturday's must-win game against Burnley. Amorim is under increasing pressure after a poor start to the new season reached a new low with Wednesday's humiliating League Cup exit to League Two Grimsby.

United, who ended last season in 15th place in the Premier League, have taken one point from their opening two league games this season and are currently languishing in 16th position. Failure to beat newly-promoted Burnley at Old Trafford would turn the heat up on Amorim, who admitted 'we will have time to decide things' after Saturday's game, in what seemed a clear reference to his role.

The 40-year-old Portuguese head coach will hold talks with club officials during the international break, having cast fresh doubt over his United future with his blunt remarks following the Grimsby debacle. Amorim is under contract until June 2027, with the option for an additional year, but has won just seven of his 29 Premier League games since taking over from Erik ten Hag last November.

While there is a reluctance to sack Amorim after less than a year in charge, there is an acceptance among the United hierarchy that he must oversee an immediate upturn in results to carry on. United chief executive Omar Berrada drove the appointment of Amorim, rejecting former sporting director Dan Ashworth, who favoured Thomas Frank, Gareth Southgate and Marco Silva.

Berrada's reputation hangs on Amorim succeeding at United, which is why the former Manchester City executive is willing to give the 40-year-old every chance of turning the situation around. But with no European football this season, United out of the League Cup and the FA Cup their only chance of winning a trophy, Amorim must turn the team's fortunes around to keep his job.

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United face a frantic last four days of the transfer window as the look to recruit a goalkeeper to take over from error-prone duo Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir, with Royal Antwerp's £17million-rated Senne Lammens their top target.

Amorim is also in the market to sign a new midfielder before Monday's transfer deadline, although his first-choice target, Brighton's Carlos Baleba, is likely to prove too costly at £100m. United are also trying to offload Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia before deadline day, with all four still training away from the first-team squad.

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A permanent deal for Antony to join Real Betis is understood to be close, while Garnacho is holding out for a move to Chelsea, who are willing to pay £35m plus add-ons for him. United wanted £50m for the 20-year-old winger but are likely to accept Chelsea’s offer to end the saga over the winger's future.

United sources say there are no plans to jettison Amorim so early in the season and believe emotion got the better of him in the immediate aftermath of the Grimsby exit.

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