Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has established clear expectations for manager Ruben Amorim, setting a top-six finish as an "acceptable aim" for the 2025/26 season, amid the Portuguese coach's hints that he might resign if the team's poor form persists.

The Red Devils slumped to 16th position in the Premier League table following their 2-0 defeat to West Ham over the weekend, continuing what has been a disappointing start to Amorim's tenure at Old Trafford.

Following the loss, Amorim made surprising comments suggesting he might step down if results don't improve. "I have that feeling, we need to change that and we need to be really strong in the summer and be brave because we will not have the next season like this," Amorim stated in his post-match interview.

He added: "If we start like this, or if the feeling is still here, we should give the space to different persons."

According to the Manchester Evening News, despite the current struggles, Ratcliffe and the ownership group have already outlined their primary objective for next season. They believe securing a top-six finish would represent satisfactory progress for the club.

This target means Manchester United will need to compete effectively against Premier League powerhouses like Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, as well as emerging forces such as Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, and Newcastle United to reclaim their position among England's "big-six" clubs.

The pressure is mounting on both Amorim and the club's hierarchy to turn things around quickly, with significant changes expected during the summer transfer window to strengthen the squad ahead of next season's campaign.