Jose Mourinho Chelsea Sacking Reportedly Would Cost Roman Abramovich Record Fee

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich would reportedly have to pay Jose Mourinho a record compensation fee if he decided to remove the Portuguese manager from his role at Stamford Bridge.

Rumours have surfaced lately that Mourinho may be primed for the sack following the defending Premier League champions' appalling start to the new campaign, per the Telegraph's Alistair Tweedale.

However, with Mourinho only in the early stages of a newly signed four-year contract—worth over £10 million a year—Abramovich would have to shell out an eye-watering £37.5 million if he opted to install a new manager, per David Woods in the Daily Star.

ADRIAN DENNIS/Getty Images

The Russian billionaire is no stranger to handing out large payoffs to ousted managers. Luiz Felipe Scolari received £12.6 million after he was sacked in 2009, while Andre Villas-Boas was compensated with £12 million in 2012, per Woods.

Those figures pale in comparison to the fee Abramovich would have to pay Mourinho, but it is not out of the question the Blues may let the 52-year-old go.      

His side eased to Premier League glory last season as they headed second-placed Manchester City by eight points and lost just three matches all term.    

They have already lost four matches after eight games of the 2015-16 term and currently lie 16th in the English top flight on eight points.

As noted by Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe, a number of the Blues' star players from last season have been atrocious in the new campaign, and Mourinho is arguably to blame for the side's current malaise:

Chelsea recently responded to the pressure on Mourinho by coming out with a statement of support, saying he is the "right manager to turn this season around."

Clearly he still has the backing of the Chelsea hierarchy, as was not the case when he departed after his first spell in charge at Stamford Bridge, which came to an acrimonious end in September 2007.

Considering Mourinho managed the west London club to Premier League glory last term, he undoubtedly deserves time to correct the current problems. And it seems now it would be financially disastrous to let him go so early into a new deal.