Aston Villa now haggling over compensation for manager who held Chelsea talks last month

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Aston Villa want Ruben Amorim but are now trying to haggle with Sporting Clube de Portugal over the compensation required.

Villa were comfortably beaten 3-0 away at Fulham on Thursday night and that proved to be the end for Steven Gerrard.

Villa wasted no time in sacking Gerrard after that defeat, giving him the axe within an hour of the full-time whistle.

Caretaker Aaron Danks oversaw a remarkable opening 15 minutes against Brentford on Sunday, bagging three goals in a stunning start.

Danks is unlikely to land the job permanently though wit hVilla looking elsewhere.

Aston Villa want Ruben Amorim

One of the most exciting names in the mix is Sporting boss Ruben Amorim.

The Mirror reported earlier this weekend that Villa are interested in Amorim and The Athletic suggest that talks have been held.

The Sunday Mirror (23/10, back page) now offer an update, suggesting that Villa are trying to haggle over the compensation needed.

It’s stated that the release clause in Amorim’s contract stands at a staggering £26million – which would be a world record fee for a manager.

Villa understandably don’t want to pay that much and are now trying to strike a deal with Sporting that means the price comes down.

Just how they will manage that remains to be seen, with Sporting unlikely to let their outstanding young manager leave easily.

Amorim, 37, took over at Braga in December 2019 but was poached by Sporting after just 13 games in charge, winning 10 and losing just two.

Amorim’s first full season at Sporting saw him win a league and cup double, making a real name for himself in the process.

Another cup win materialised last season and Sporting are now in the Champions League, albeit struggling to get out of their group.

Sky Sports reported in September that Chelsea had held talks with Amorim over replacing Thomas Tuchel, but went with Graham Potter instead.

Amorim is bound to have admirers in the Premier League but Villa’s pursuit feels like one that will either prove too expensive or too much of a struggle.