Benfica presidential candidate Joao Noronha Lopes has denied reports he intends to entice under-fire Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim back to Portugal.

Noronha Lopes is hoping to succeed Manu Rui Costa when the Lisbon giants host an election on October 25, and he has already outlined his desire to bring Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva back to his boyhood club.

Over the weekend, reports claimed Noronha Lopes also wanted to attract Amorim to the Estadio da Luz, after he was spotted in attendance at United's 3-0 derby defeat to Manchester City.

Amorim's future at Old Trafford has been the subject of fierce debate, with United only taking 31 points from his 31 Premier League games at the helm.

The Red Devils have the worst record of all 17 ever-present Premier League clubs since Amorim took the reins last November, with Tottenham also taking 31 points but boasting a superior goal difference.

But Benfica will not offer Amorim an escape route, with Noronha Lopes determined to stick with Bruno Lage after a second-placed Primeira Liga finish last season.

"He's a great coach, but he has a contract with Manchester United," Noronha Lopes told CMTV when asked about Amorim, as quoted by Record.

"He is a Benfica fan. Of course, I like him, but I don't have a contract for Ruben to sign. 

"Bruno Lage will be Benfica's coach, naturally. I will work with him, as he is Benfica's coach. I will not be a factor in Benfica's instability."

Noronha Lopes also denied meeting with City midfielder Silva ahead of Sunday's Manchester derby, with the 31-year-old able to agree a pre-contract deal with a non-English club from January, ahead of becoming a free agent in June.

"We went to Manchester to watch the derby and took the opportunity to hold meetings and prepare for Benfica's future," Noronha Lopes told reporters.

"I didn't meet with Bernardo or Ruben before the game. Ruben is under contract with Manchester United, and I don't comment on Manchester United's results."

Amorim’s Premier League win rate stands at 26% (8/31), the worst figure of any manager to lead United in the top flight since the Second World War.

Among all managers to lead United in at least 20 such games, only the club's first manager Alfred Albut (20%, 1892 to 1900) and Scott Duncan (24%, 1932 to 1937) have a lower win ratio.

Amorim has been criticised for persisting with his trademark 3-4-3 system, and former United midfielder Paul Scholes believes he must adapt if he is to remain in charge.

"He cannot carry on playing this way, he just can't," Scholes told BBC Sport. 

"At some point there has to be a moment where he thinks, 'I have to change something because what I am doing now is not working and I am not getting results'.

"I like Amorim, with everything he says, he seems to be a likeable man. But unfortunately, the results paint a picture. At this moment in time, it isn't good enough. 

"If results don't improve, performances don't really matter that much. He has to win some games or the pressure is going to come on him massively."