'Should get knighted' - Paul Merson gives verdict on incoming Man United boss Ruben Amorim

Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has said incoming Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim would be worthy of a knighthood if he leads the club to a top four finish this season.

United are understood to be very close to installing Amorim as Erik ten Hag's successor at Old Trafford after reaching an agreement with Sporting Lisbon.

It is understood United have agreed a compensation package with the Portuguese club after they confirmed the Reds had expressed interest in triggering Amorim's €10million (£8.3m) release clause on Tuesday.

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Reports elsewhere have since claimed Amorim could officially be named as United manager as soon as today (Thursday). However, he may not take charge at Old Trafford until the upcoming November international break, meaning interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy may oversee three more matches.

Amorim, 39, has earned plenty of plaudits for the job he has done at Sporting since being appointed manager in March 2020. However, Merson believes the step up will be massive for the former Braga boss.

Merson, speaking to Sky Sports, said: "He's done amazing at Sporting. This is going to be different. No disrespect. They play against Porto and Benfica and that's it.

"He's coming in to manage one of the biggest clubs in the world. We've seen it with Ten Hag: brilliant at Ajax, come to Man United, win one, draw one, lose one and you're under pressure. There's a lot of work to be done. This is five steps up.

"Will Amorim be different to the managers who have gone before? I don't know if he will. He's managed in Portugal, done everything right, his team did very well against Arsenal last year. But this is different. It's hard to explain.

"We've seen with all these managers, you're under severe pressure every game. As a football team they're nowhere near those heights.

"One of the biggest football clubs in the world with a just-above-average football team. I can't emphasise enough how far they are behind the big boys at the moment."

United, as things stand, are currently 14th in the Premier League table, seven points shy of the final Champions League qualification spot. In Merson's opinion, it would take some effort for Amorim to lead United to a top four spot this term.

"I'd be surprised if they went top four," Merson added. "You could put Pep Guardiola in charge of Man United and he couldn't turn it around that much. It's going to take time.

"They have to build and build whereby in three to four years time United are back where they should be, fighting for Premier League titles. They have to be patient, bring players in steadily.

"If they get top four he'd have pulled up trees and should get knighted by our king."