Manchester United’s season can still be saved if they act fast – and Ruben Amorim is a man who works quickly.

talkSPORT understands the Sporting Lisbon manager has agreed to take over at Old Trafford after Erik ten Hag was sacked on Monday.

United have moved swiftly to get one of the most highly-rated managers in EuropeGetty

The Red Devils find themselves 14th in the Premier League, having broken records for all the wrong reasons during the 2023/24 campaign.

It is symptomatic of a wider decline since Sir Alex Ferguson quit in 2013, not too dissimilar to the situation at Sporting when Amorim took charge in 2019.

The Portuguese giants had not lifted the Primeira Liga title since 2001. Since his appointment, they have won it twice, along with three other trophies.

Like United, Sporting were a club in disarray when they made the bold decision to pay £8.3million for Amorim’s services.

The former midfielder was only 35 and two years into his coaching career, but his achievements at Braga had been astonishing.

Within his first six weeks in charge of the Minhotos, Amorim won his first game 7-1, beat Porto in a domestic cup final, and recorded the club’s first away win at Benfica in 65 years.

He was only in charge of Braga for three months before Sporting made him the third-most expensive manager in football history – and in that time, his side only lost twice.

Results are one thing, but culture is another – and like with Braga, Amorim was instantly transformative for Sporting.

The club had recently lost Bruno Fernandes to Man United, which Amorim used as an opportunity to rebuild the club with an intense focus on youth.

Amorim is hugely popular at Sporting after ending decades of obscurity

Players including Nuno Santos, Pedro Porro and Joao Palhinha arrived in the summer of 2020, while Goncalo Inacio, Matheus Nunes and Nuno Mendes were among those promoted to the first-team squad from the academy.

Sporting went 32 matches unbeaten in Amorim’s first full season, setting a new domestic record, with a fearless team full of young players.

Despite the loss of key men, Amorim has kept Sporting competitive and unfaltering in their style, which was rewarded in the form of a second league title last term.

The 39-year-old is expected to bring that unwavering approach with him to Old Trafford.

talkSPORT understands Amorim is wedded to a 3-4-3 formation, attacking in a 3-2-5 shape and then defending as a 5-2-3, radically different to United’s system under Ten Hag.

Speaking on talkSPORT, football columnist Henry Winter said: “They’ve got a fantastic manager who plays a completely different style.

“He plays 3-4-3. It’s going to be different from 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1.

“So again, they’re going to have to go into the transfer market and strengthen, bring in stronger characters, bring in stronger players physically as well as mentally.”

Sporting are not just known for their high-intensity, possession-based approach – there is a pragmatism to Amorim’s side.

The incoming United boss is a known admirer of Jose Mourinho – and his teams are notoriously difficult to score against.

European football expert Kevin Hatchard told talkSPORT: “It will be attacking, but there’s a pragmatism there as well. They do play possession based attacking football. But if you look at that season where they did win the Primera Liga title the first time, they only conceded 20 goals.

Joao Palhinha and Pedro Porro are among the superstars who rose to prominence under AmorimAFP

“He’s made no secret of the fact that he’s got an admiration for Jose Mourinho. And he actually went to visit Mourinho when he was the Manchester United manager. So it’s that mix.

“Yes, they play exciting football. Anyone who’s watched them will know that there’s a lot of width in their play. They get the wingbacks involved.

“They had Pedro Porro, before he went to Spurs, they also had Nuno Mendes before he went to PSG and now he’s got some very exciting wing-backs there as well. So yeah, they do play exciting football.

“They score goals, but they’ve got that structure as well.”

talkSPORT understands United chiefs are pushing to get Amorim in place before the visit of Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday, while interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy will oversee the Carabao Cup clash against Leicester on Wednesday.

If Amorim does arrive before the Chelsea clash, he will have a number of key players missing – including Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, Tyrell Malacia and Antony.

But with a number of those players close to returning, what does Amorim’s dream United XI look like?

In goal, Andre Onana has been one of the few positives for United in recent weeks – and his ability with the ball at his feet makes him a perfect fit for Amorim.

United have won just three Premier League matches this seasonGetty

At the back, Amorim could be forced to rely on former Benfica teammate Victor Lindelof or Jonny Evans on the right side of his three due to the club’s injury crisis.

However, Yoro or Maguire would likely compete for that position when available, with Matthijs de Ligt most suited to the central role and left-footed Lisandro Martinez a good fit on the other side.

Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot are set to fight for the right wing-back position, while both could deputise on the other flank if needed.

Although, with Amorim known to take a chance on youth, and left-backs in short supply, that could present an opportunity for 17-year-old Harry Amass, who was called up to the first-team in April.

In midfield, Amorim favours two defensive players in a double-pivot. Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, while experienced, are both 32 and could find themselves snubbed in favour of a more youthful partnership in Manuel Ugarte and Mainoo.

There is no room for a traditional No.10 in Amorim’s system – meaning club captain Bruno Fernandes would have to occupy one of the wide positions in the front three and drift into central areas.

Amorim has been blessed with a goal machine at Sporting in the shape of Viktor Gyokeres, who was signed from Championship club Coventry in 2023.

The wingers are equally important, with ex-Tottenham youngster Marcus Edwards emerging as a star player for Sporting under Amorim.

Rasmus Hojlund will hope to remain United’s first-choice striker over Joshua Zirkzee – which leaves one forward position remaining.

Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo will both be hoping to prove they deserve to start under Amorim – although Alejandro Garnacho appears to have the strongest claim on recent form.

How Man United could line up under Ruben Amorim