RUBEN AMORIM'S expected move to Manchester United has not gone down well with two Sporting CP stars, reports suggest.
The Red Devils sacked Erik ten Hag on Monday and appointed assistant coach Ruud van Nistelrooy as interim manager.
However, club bosses Ineos proved to be laser-focused in appointing the next permanent manager, with two-time league winner Amorim set to take charge.
United have indicated they are willing to pay the 39-year-old's £8.3million release clause, but have been told to cough up a further £4m to take his coaching staff as well.
SunSport exclusively revealed that idol and former tutor Jose Mourinho encouraged him to take the job.
Tuesday night saw Amorim's Sporting side win 3-1 over Nacional in the Portuguese League Cup.
But come Wednesday, not all was as it seemed with O Jogo reporting that star striker Viktor Gyokeres had been left unhappy with Amorim's upcoming exit.
The Swede has become one of Europe's top strikers under Amorim, and scored in Tuesday's 3-1 win, but was "enticed" to stay in Portugal to continue working with the "Special One 2.0".
However, both the 26-year-old and Danish star Morten Hjulmand have been left irritated by the Amorim news after turning down interest from elsewhere, including from Man Utd.
Speaking to SportTV, ex-Coventry ace Gyokeres said: "He's here and that's what I'm focused on, let's see what happens. He's still here, so I'm not going to wear myself out."
Amorim was asked about player instability regarding his move at his press conference.
He replied: "If I haven't even left Sporting yet. What I say is that, when everything is decided, I will come here to explain everything. At this moment, everything I can say to a Sporting fan. It is obvious that they are revolted about the situation.
"Because they have a lot of affection for me. They believe a lot in my work. And love is very close. It's not really hateful. But we know what football is like. I realize that.
"People have to feel what they have to feel at this moment, I have nothing to say about it and I think it's perfectly natural. What I am saying is that now I cannot say anything definitive or definitive.
"And I'll be able to say that. If I have the opportunity, and I should, I'm sure I will, I'll explain here, step by step, why I decided one thing or another. I don't want to give hope to anyone, nor stop giving hope.
"What I say is that there was the club's situation. The communication had to come out on this day that there is a game. The feeling in the stadium that Pedro had, I had.
"I can see that my players, when they go to a lecture, are not the same. This is part of our life and we know what these situations are like. We have been through in the past.
"What I say is that a club has appeared that wants to pay my clause. And I don't control that. When the plane came, I might not have caught the plane. It's true.
"I thought the championship was already won. I couldn't say that at the time, but now I do. In this situation, there are things that I do not control.
"What I control is that I'm going to say and I'm going to explain everything here. And I'll explain my decision. That's it. But I need to have everything defined. Players do not need to make any requests.
"I know what the players want. I know what the players feel. Now, it's time to get ready to work."
Asked about the likes of Gyokeres in particular, he added: "First, no player was offered the clause [to leave mid-season]. And that doesn't change. There is no more stability than that.
"It's easy to say, only someone leaves here because of the clause. Then, it wasn't Viktor who said that. He was Viktor's agent. They are different people.
"I will not be talking about the decision or non-decision. I'll explain everything. What will force one way or the other, that doesn't matter now. I'll explain everything.
"Now, speaking of that part, the club only lets assets be sold in the middle of the season, it seemed to me, it was always that rule, by the clause.
"No player had proposals for the clause. None. In this respect, the project is not weakened because the rules remain. And the coherence remains."
Despite reports initially claiming Amorim could be in charge as soon as this Sunday's clash against Chelsea, The Guardian report there is a 30-day notice period before the switch can officially happen.
The Red Devils play six games in that period before hosting Everton at Old Trafford on December 1 in what could be Amorim's first game in charge.
In the meantime, United beat Leicester 5-2 in the League Cup on Wednesday, with Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro both grabbing a brace while Alejandro Garnacho also got on the scoresheet.
It was a stark contrast even to the West Ham game on Sunday, as Ten Hag's squad struggled to get the ball in the net. A fact that ultimately cost the Dutchman his job.