Ruben Amorim, the 39-year-old manager of Sporting CP and a leading candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, has dismissed rumours of his impending move to Anfield.
Despite leading Sporting to the top of the Portuguese league and a forthcoming cup final against either Porto or Vitoria on May 26, Amorim emphasised that no discussions about his future have occurred with his team, joking that their conversations are limited to requests for days off.
"I didn’t say anything to the players," Amorim explained.
"When it was mentioned that I had an agreement with Liverpool, I felt the need to talk, but I left that part for the press conference. I don’t get anything from the players; they just ask about days off!"
The speculation around Amorim's future intensified after reports surfaced suggesting that an agreement with Liverpool was in place.
However, Amorim has firmly denied these claims, stating last week that he would no longer respond to questions about his career prospects but felt compelled to address the rumours during a press conference prior to Sporting’s match against Famalicao.
While sources close to Liverpool have downplayed the notion that an agreement has been reached, indicating that the club is still conducting due diligence on several candidates, the ongoing connection of Amorim to the Liverpool job highlights his rising stock in European football.
The former Benfica midfielder, who retired from professional play at the age of 32, remains focused on his current responsibilities with Sporting as they chase domestic glory.