For the second time this season, Chelsea have decided to sack their manager.
After parting ways with Thomas Tuchel in September, the Blues have now opted to send his replacement Graham Potter packing after just over six months in charge.
The former Brighton manager failed to impress during his stint at Stamford Bridge and leaves with a poor record while in charge of the club.
The decision to sack two managers in one season isn’t an easy one to make, and in this case, the call will also be quite costly considering Potter was brought to Chelsea on a five-year contract.
MORE: Why did Chelsea sack Graham Potter?
How much did it cost Chelsea to sack Graham Potter?
While no exact figure has emerged just yet, it’s safe to say Chelsea sacking Potter will cost the club millions.
Potter was brought in to replace Tuchel in September and handed a five-year contract worth over £50m ($61m).
It’s been reported since Potter’s sacking that Chelsea won’t be paying out all of his remaining contract which would have been a world-record fee.
The Guardian report that he will, however, receive ‘significant compensation’ for his premature Stamford Bridge departure.
That fee will likely be a considerable percentage of his remaining contract but a sum the Blues and their owner Todd Boehly obviously deemed worth paying to force through managerial change before season’s end.
😬 Graham Potter becomes the 12th manager to be sacked in the #PremierLeague this season.
👀 The most in a single season ever. pic.twitter.com/TxRGBrzE9R
— Sporting News Football Club (@sn_footballclub) April 2, 2023
How much did Chelsea pay Brighton for Potter?
Potter’s arrival at Stamford Bridge, just like his exit, was an expensive exercise for the Blues.
Because he was contracted to Brighton at the time, Chelsea ended up paying the club £21.5 million ($26.3m) in compensation to secure his services.
Brighton themselves had reportedly paid Swansea £3m ($3.7m) in compensation in 2019 to sign him after impressing in the Championship.
Who will be Chelsea’s next manager?
With Potter’s departure, Chelsea must now find a suitable replacement.
While Bruno Saltor has been named as interim head coach, the Blues will have their eyes on a more suitable long-term appointment.
Former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann is a strong early favourite with the German available and reportedly of interest to Chelsea bosses.
Mauricio Pochettiono has also been linked along with Sporting’s Ruben Amorim.
🚨🔵 Julian Nagelsmann is the favorite candidate to replace Graham Potter as new Chelsea head coach, as reported yesterday. #CFC
Nagelsmann was mentioned yesterday during internal discussions — Julian is considered a talented coach.
Talks are ongoing to make best decision. pic.twitter.com/Y2QmqvoBTS
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 2, 2023