- West Ham target Ruben Amorim returned to Portugal after midnight on Tuesday
- Amorim had flown to London on Monday to hold managerial talks with the club
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In-demand manager Ruben Amorim remained tight-lipped as he returned to Portugal after a whirlwind trip to London following talks with West Ham to succeed David Moyes at the helm.
On Monday, the Sporting Lisbon boss flew to the English capital to speak with the Hammers as they assess the club’s future beyond the end of the season.
And upon his return to his homeland hours later, landing shortly after midnight on Tuesday, the 39-year-old was met by a swarm of journalists asking him about his future.
Despite being bombarded with questions and having multiple cameras and photographers in front of him, Amorim laughed off speculation about his next move.
“See you on Saturday,” he simply told the media, alluding to his next press conference prior to Sporting Lisbon’s match against Porto that will be played on Sunday night.
Rubén Amorim was greeted by a swarm of journalists after landing back in Portugal on Tuesday.
The 39-year-old was previously pictured boarding a plane to London to meet West Ham owners.
West Ham held talks with Sporting Lisbon boss and Liverpool manager target on Monday
David Moyes ends his contract in the summer and no decision has yet been made about his future
CNNPortugal reported on Monday that Amorim flew to London on a plane arranged by West Ham’s owners, to meet with them about becoming the next manager at the London Stadium.
It is said that he left Portugal, accompanied by businessman Raúl Costa, after Sporting’s training session this Monday.
The Portuguese leaders have two days off before returning to training on Thursday, as they prepare for a massive clash against rivals Porto this Sunday.
Amorim could be available to English clubs for £12.8m and was top of Liverpool’s list, but is no longer the preferred candidate for the Anfield job.
A decision on Moyes and his potential replacement will not be made until the season is over. As well as Amorim, the Hammers have held talks with Julen Lopetugui.
The Spaniard is a more viable option for West Ham and has been out of work since leaving Wolves in the summer but is eager to get back into management.
Moyes is out of contract at the end of the season, but stated in February that he had been offered a new contract and that the decision to stay or not was in his own hands.
Amorim was the favorite to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool at the end of the season.
Amorim is on the verge of leading Sporting Lisbon to a second Portuguese title in four years
Former Wolves and Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui is also being considered by West Ham
Hammers manager Tim Steidten has drawn up a shortlist of candidates and Mail Sport understands talks have taken place with Amorim, who has taken Sporting Lisbon to within a whisker of the Portuguese title (and second in four seasons). .
Portuguese reports suggested he had agreed a deal with Liverpool, but those close to the club played this down and were keen to claim he was just a name on a short list.
Liverpool’s new CEO Michael Edwards and sporting director Richard Hughes were said to be set to go from “brave to popular” after fan favorite Xabi Alonso was ruled out.