Manchester United caretaker boss Ruud Van Nistelrooy says he will help "as long as he is needed" as reports suggest the club's target to succeed Erik ten Hag, Ruben Amorim, will not take up the post until next month. A United legend as a player, Van Nistelrooy enjoyed a winning start as interim manager with United beating Leicester 5-2 to reach the League Cup quarter finals on Wednesday - 48 hours after Ten Hag's dismissal. United pulled the plug on Ten Hag's two-year reign as manager on Monday after a 2-1 defeat by West Ham left them 14th in the Premier League.

Sporting Lisbon manager Amorim quickly emerged as United's number one option to take over the hot seat. Sporting issued a statement to the Lisbon stock exchange on Tuesday confirming United were willing to meet his 10-million-euro ($10.8 million) release clause.

Negotiations are ongoing with the Portuguese champions to agree compensation for the 39-year-old. According to reports in Portugal, Amorim will remain at Sporting for the next three matches before completing his move during the November international break. That leaves Van Nistelrooy in charge at least for this weekend's visit by Chelsea, the Europa League home match to PAOK, and another clash with Leicester.

"I came here as an assistant to help the club. I'm helping as long as I'm needed and in the future, in any capacity, I'm here to help the club build towards the future," Van Nistelrooy said after Wednesday's stirring win at Old Trafford. He added: "The re.