Ruben Amorim accepts he may be forced to wait until after the international break before taking over as Manchester United manager.

Reports in Portugal on Wednesday night claimed Amorim was set to sign a two-and-a-half-year contract with United, with the option of another year, and that an agreement could be announced as early as Thursday.

But Sporting’s desire for Amorim to remain in charge for their next three games before the November hiatus has prompted a tug-of-war with United over his potential start date.

United, who beat Leicester 5-2 in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night under interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy in the club’s first game since Erik ten Hag was sacked on Monday, are due to trigger the £8.3 million release clause in Amorim’s contract.

Sporting are open to releasing their 39-year-old coach before a 30-day notice period in his contract, but not immediately and are aiming to retain his services for their next three matches.

Such a scenario would mean Amorim not taking charge of United until they travel to Ipswich Town on Nov 24 after the international break.

That stance has raised the prospect of United having to pay an additional fee to secure Amorim’s early release but the Portuguese is thought to be wary of leaving Sporting in the lurch and keen to respect his club’s position.

It means Amorim could still potentially be in the Sporting dug-out when United’s bitter local rivals Manchester City visit the Jose Alvalade Stadium in the Champions League next Tuesday.

The City match is sandwiched in between league games against Estrela on Friday and Braga on Sunday week.

Amorim could bring as many as five staff with him to Old Trafford, including assistants Carlos Fernandes, Adelio Candido and Emanuel Ferro, goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital and fitness coach Paulo Barreira.

Van Nistelrooy, who was brought to United by Ten Hag in the summer, expressed an interest in being part of a new-look coaching staff.

“I’m here to help and serve and give my everything for the club in any capacity with so many people here around me that want the best for the club and that will never change,” the former United striker said.

“I came here as an assistant to help the club. Now in this role, I’m helping as long as needed. In any capacity, I’m here to help the club further to build towards the future, that’s what I’m here for.”

United will face Chelsea at home on Sunday before playing PAOK Salonika of Greece in the Europa League and then Leicester in the league at Old Trafford on Sunday week in their final game before the international break and there is a chance Van Nistelrooy could yet be in the dug-out for those games, too.

Van Nistelrooy paid tribute to Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, who both scored twice against Leicester to book a quarter-final trip to Tottenham. Alejandro Garnacho claimed the other goal. Omar Berrada, the United chief executive who has been a driving force behind the pursuit of Amorim, was at Old Trafford to watch the game.

“Of course he’s gone through difficult moments,” Van Nistelrooy said of Casemiro. “In the Liverpool game [when Casemiro was blamed for two goals in a 3-0 defeat] he got a lot of criticism.

“He didn’t deserve to be blamed for that game. It’s totally not true and if you see him in training and how he prepares for games and the history and all he has achieved with five Champions Leagues, he’s an example for us. That was part of my celebration also.”

Fernandes’ goals were his first since April for United. “I wasn’t worried about him because I see him in training every day and how he prepares and helps the team,” Van Nistlerooy said. “He’s taken a lot on his shoulders to help players and the club and he’s so responsible for everything within the club and today he was free to go out and play well and enjoy it. Hopefully there are more goals to come.”