It’s been well established in recent weeks in reports like this one on Bleacher Report that Antonio Conte has a year left on his salary, and so sacking him would cost the full £9m. Conte has made it very clear with his recent press conferences that he won’t be going anywhere unless he gets his payoff.
Add to that the fact that one of their top targets, Maurizio Sarri, has a release clause of €8m at Napoli – according to his own agent quoted on Goal.com – and you have quite the expensive exchange. That total of €20m+ plus would be much better spent on a new central midfielder, or on a signing on bonus for Eden Hazard.
Given Sarri would be odds on to be sacked within two years, it would truly be an expensive gamble. Are the newly frugal Chelsea of the 2010s going to be able to stomach such a double blow?
