Man Utd Respond to Ruben Amorim Sack Rumours Amid Gareth Southgate Links

Manchester United have responded to reports that they are considering the future of manager Ruben Amorim.

Amorim has been placed under further pressure following Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Brentford.

The Bees went 2-0 up in the first half before Benjamin Sesko's close-range finish halved the deficit.

Bruno Fernandes then missed a penalty in the second half after Bryan Mbeumo was adjudged to have been brought down by Nathan Collins.

Mikkel Damsgaard made it 3-1 with a superb long-range effort into the top corner in injury time.

The result leaves United on seven points from their opening six games.

They are in 14th place - just one position above where they finished last season - and have already conceded 11 goals.

Amorim has faced criticism for his tactical inflexibility, particularly in his refusal to change United's formation even when they are behind in the game.

It was reported by talkSPORT on Sunday morning that United have drafted a three-manager shortlist for if they 'reluctantly' decide to part company with Amorim.

Ex-England boss Gareth Southgate, Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola and Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner are the names on that list.

Significantly, the report adds that, should a change be made, United would likely wait until after November 1, as they would have to pay less compensation to Amorim.

However, BBC Sport's Simon Stone reports that minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is still behind Amorim and feels 'it is only fair' to give him the remainder of the season.

The Portuguese boss was backed with three new attackers in the summer, with Mbeumo, Sesko and Matheus Cunha arriving for combined fees of nearly £200 million.

United also brought in a new goalkeeper, Senne Lammens, from Royal Antwerp on deadline day.

The club have also dismissed claims that they have drawn up a shortlist of potential replacements for Amorim, Stone adds, and are said to be 'adamant' that no other manager is being lined up.