Antonio Conte set for eye-watering payout from Tottenham with sacking announcement expected

Antonio Conte is in line for an enormous payout from Tottenham Hotspur that could hit the £20million mark, as chairman Daniel Levy prepares to wield the axe.

It has widely been reported that Spurs are set to sack their manager after tensions reached boiling point following the Italian's incredible press conference rant at the weekend.

Conte blasted the mentality of the club and its players, claiming they aren't used to operating under 'stress' and 'pressure' because of a lack of trophies. It followed Tottenham's disappointing 3-3 draw at relegation-threatened Southampton, in which they threw away a 3-1 lead – to Conte's fury.

Many viewed Conte's comments as disrespectful and it emerged that seveal Tottenham players wanted to see their manager sacked after hearing what he'd said.

Discussions are taking place again today at Tottenham to proceed with final steps of the decision on Antonio Conte 🚨⚪️ #THFC

Italian coach still waiting for the club to communicate the decision in the next 24/48 hours as reported yesterday. pic.twitter.com/v7IQ07Z7nB

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 21, 2023

Yet the deal to fire the Italian could leave him very well off financially, with reports claiming Tottenham will have to pay the 53-year-old £5million in compensation if they sack him.

And it might get even worse for Spurs and the money-savvy Levy if they do give Conte his marching orders, with 90Min reporting that Conte's contract includes a clause that will entitle him to a £15m one-off payment – the same as his annual wage – if he is dismissed.

Those figures wouldn't quite eclipse the £26million Conte was paid by Chelsea when they sacked him in 2018, but it would be a similar amount to the £19.6million Manchester United reportedly paid Jose Mourinho at the end of the same year, when they replaced him with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The Independent report that Ryan Mason is the favourite to take charge of Spurs on a temporary basis until the end of the season. Mauricio Pochettino is in the frame to return to the club as their long-term manager, with Thomas Tuchel also seemingly in the mix.