Sporting manager Ruben Amorim has admitted he could leave amid links to the Liverpool job as Jurgen Klopp prepares to exit.
With Klopp set to leave Liverpool at the end of the season after nine years, Amorim has been earmarked as one of the favourites to take over.
The Portuguese coach has garnered plenty of appreciation for his work in the Primeira Liga with Sporting and several clubs are interested in his services including Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
And the 39-year-old has thrown fresh doubt on whether he will stay with Sporting.
After being asked if he would remain with the Lisbon club next season, Amorim replied: “No, I can’t guarantee it.
“Sporting is dealing with the future and I cannot decide because I gave my word.
“I can no longer go back in the sense that, if we don’t win titles, I will leave Sporting.
“This was very clear from the beginning. It was a bet that I thought was important to convey to my players, so we have to win.
“First, we will win the titles and then we will decide things, that is not a concern.
“The future has been planned for a long time, and we, as a structure, are outlining all the situations, everything we want, for next season.
“That’s the main reason why I can’t guarantee that I’ll stay, I crossed paths with the players and as a leader I can’t lose my word, no matter how much it costs me, maybe we have to win titles, we’re on the right track and it’s important to win this game.”
Sporting are currently at the top of the league in Portugal but are in a tight battle with Benfica, while Porto are lagging behind.
They lead their city rivals by one point while Sporting are seen as the third-biggest club in the country behind Benfica and Porto.
Winning the title would see him win the Primeira Liga for a second time and solidify him as a hero in the club’s folklore, leading to a massive interest in him from some of Europe’s biggest teams.
Liverpool have moved away from Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi as a potential successor to Klopp this summer.
It comes after Reds legend Xabi Alonso underlined his intention to stay with Bayer Leverkusen while Amorim has admitted the recent speculation has ‘upset’ him.
