ADELAIDE United expects to know by the end of February whether the club’s most successful coach, Guillermo Amor, will stay on.

Amor’s two-year contract comes to an end in June.

United’s general manager of football Ante Kovacevic says talks have been put on hold at the request of Amor.

They will restart when the coach, who is preparing for the Reds’ AFC Champions League campaign, is ready.

The popular Barcelona legend has been linked with moves to Manchester City and Melbourne City next season, with Adelaide giving Amor every chance to consider staying at the Reds long-term.

“He (Amor) told us he can’t make a decision right now,” Kovacevic said on Friday.

“We respect his wishes.”

With Adelaide signing Isaias for a further three-years, the chances of keeping Amor are potentially much stronger, given the Barcelona legend will have his No. 1 soldier at his disposal if he wants to rebuild the side, which won the A-League double last season but has struggled since.

First Amor must contend with the loss of midfielder James Holland.

He will be the club’s first major departure of the FIFA transfer window, Kovacevic has confirmed.

media_camera James Holland ... bound for China. Picture: Morne de Klerk (Getty Images)

The former Socceroos midfielder is expected to leave for Chinese Super League side Liaoning Whowin on Saturday after playing his best match for the Reds in a 2-1 win over Melbourne City at Coopers Stadium on Thursday night.

The departure of Holland, who is due to have a medical soon, is not unexpected, said Kovacevic.

“It has been always on the cards for James — he wants to get himself back into Socceroos calculations and we have agreed to let him pursue the option in China,’’ he said.

“It’s a mutual agreement and we won’t stand in his way.”

The 27-year-old signed a two-year deal for Adelaide in September after seven years in Europe.

There is an out clause in his contract which allows Holland to leave the Reds for an agreed transfer fee.

Holland played 13 matches for Adelaide this season and tasted victory twice for the reigning champion — in a 2-0 win over Wellington Phoenix at Hindmarsh last month and last night’s emphatic 2-1 win over City.

Kovacevic also revealed The Advertiser Channel 7 Golden Boots winner Dario Vidosic was a chance of returning to the Reds after he was released by Liaoning Whowin this month.

But it’s understood Vidosic, 29, is first examining other potential options in Asia.

Eric Paartalu — a former Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City — is being presented to the Reds as a potential signing after he was reportedly released by Qatari club Al Kharaitiyat.

Kovacevic says Adelaide is also on track to sign a foreign striker or attacking midfielder before the transfer window closes early next month.

Meanwhile, Adelaide City’s Joel Allwright is on the verge of earning a contract with Newcastle Jets during this current window.

Jets coach Mark Jones, who also coached Adelaide United in the NPL last season, has been impressed by the 27-year-old, who has been trialling with the club since landing in Newcastle on Tuesday.

Originally published as Amor contract talks on hold