Manchester United face potential £12m payout if Ruben Amorim is sacked as internal doubts grow

Manchester United would be liable to pay manager Ruben Amorim about £12 million if he is dismissed before the first anniversary of his appointment, club sources and reports said, as internal doubts about the Portuguese coach's methods have started to surface alongside a difficult run of fixtures.

Amorim was appointed by United on November 1 last year on a two-and-a-half-year contract reported to pay £6.5 million a season, with an option to extend for a further year, after the club paid Sporting Lisbon a fee understood to be £9.2 million to buy him out of his deal. It is understood the compensation figure would apply if he were sacked before his first anniversary on November 1 this year.

United's hierarchy has publicly continued to back Amorim despite a poor start to the Premier League season and a shock Carabao Cup exit to League Two Grimsby Town. The club's results so far include one win in four league games, and officials believe some underlying statistics point to progress, but they acknowledge that form and results have not met expectations. Betting markets have identified a number of early favourites to replace Amorim should the club act, including Marco Silva, Oliver Glasner, Unai Emery and Andoni Iraola.

Insiders told reporters they have noticed two recurring concerns about the 40-year-old head coach. The first is a perception among some players and staff that Amorim 'hides when the going gets tough' — displaying a reticent demeanour on the technical area rather than visibly urging a response when matches are not going well. Observers cited incidents such as his decision not to watch penalty shootouts and moments at the side of the pitch where his body language appeared subdued.

The second concern relates to how emotion affects Amorim in defeat. Confidential accounts said he has sometimes been taken out of the post-match media line by club staff and, on occasions, chosen to face questions from only a small group of reporters. Some of his post-match remarks in recent months, including a comment that he sometimes "hates" his players and that he would rather be sacked than abandon his football philosophy, have intensified scrutiny inside Old Trafford.

Club sources stressed that those worries sit alongside recognition of the hours Amorim and his coaching staff have invested. Players were reportedly given heart-rate monitors during a recent break in the schedule and strict training programmes to follow away from Carrington. A six-man leadership group within the squad — captained internally by figures such as Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez — has reiterated calls for players to accept responsibility for poor performances while debate continues about tactical setup and motivational methods.

United face a testing sequence of fixtures ahead of Amorim's first anniversary, including home matches against Chelsea and present early-season surprises Sunderland, trips to Brentford and later to Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. Those upcoming games, sources said, increase the stakes for the manager and the recruitment and football boards.

The club's financial position adds an extra layer of consideration. United are due to publish their annual accounts later this week, and executives have previously warned of the need for continued cost control. Under Ineos ownership, the club has implemented rounds of redundancies, and senior figures have cautioned that further significant outlays such as a big managerial payout would be unwelcome amid tight finances and a commercial gap with local rivals.

Off-field decisions have also provoked fan unease. United controversially relocated long-standing season-ticket holders from seats behind the dugout to create a new VIP hospitality area, a move that has been criticised by supporter groups. Packages for the new hospitality area have reportedly seen price reductions for some fixtures, and protest group The 1958 said it is seeking to unite fan organisations under a common charter to oppose club choices they believe were taken without adequate consultation.

On the playing side, there have been bright spots. New goalkeeper Senne Lammens has impressed in training and drawn praise from senior squad members, while Andre Onana, released on loan to Trabzonspor, was named man of the match on his debut despite the team losing. United continue to emphasise youth development, trialling teenagers such as Senegalese winger Etienne Mendy and promoting academy players into first-team sessions. Darren Fletcher's Under-18s began their season strongly, winning their opening matches without conceding and prompting the club to bring several youngsters into senior training.

For now, United's board is understood to be reluctant to enact another managerial change so soon after last season's appointment. The coming weeks will test that resolve: a run of challenging fixtures, scrutiny of the club's financial statements and growing internal concerns about leadership style and sideline demeanour could all influence decisions about Amorim's future at Old Trafford.