The cost of Chelsea’s "disastrous season" could run to more than £100M ($151.2M) for Owner Roman Abramovich as he considers whether sacking Manager Jose Mourinho "would trigger a turnaround in fortunes," according to Matt Law of the London TELEGRAPH. That figure takes into consideration the fact that one of the top candidates to replace Mourinho next summer, Diego Simeone, would "only accept the job if he could overhaul the current squad." Abramovich and the Chelsea board have the int'l break to "decide whether they can continue to stand by Mourinho after a seventh Premier League defeat of the season, at Stoke City, left them three points above the drop zone and 13 points off the top four." The understanding has always been that the owner "would make a change if he felt Chelsea’s Champions League status was under serious threat," but sacking Mourinho and failing to climb into the top four "would cost him a fortune." Assuming Mourinho accepts an immediate pay-out, he would be due £10M ($15.1M) "in compensation." Failure to qualify for the Champions League "is estimated to cost clubs at least" £40M ($60.5M). Simeone would represent an "expensive option for Abramovich." His Atlético Madrid buy-out clause is set at £15M ($22.7M) and "sources close to the former midfielder claim he believes the Chelsea squad needs major investment" (TELEGRAPH, 11/8).
