West Ham will have to pay Manuel Pellegrini £15m in compensation if they sack the former Manchester City manager this season, claims The Times.
The Hammers made Pellegrini one of the best-paid managers in the Premier League during the summer but the club have made an disastrous start to the season.
West Ham spent nearly £100m on new players in pre-season but are bottom of the Premier League with four defeats from four matches.
Pellegrini has returned to his native Chile during the international break rather than stay and work with the players left at the club.
West Ham’s board will be patient with Pellegrini largely owing to the fact they face paying a hefty bill should they terminate the 64-year-old’s contract.
The Hammers facing a daunting run of league fixtures after the international break, starting away to Everton before successive home matches against Chelsea and Manchester United.
Only Huddersfield have conceded as many goals as West Ham in the Premier League this season (10).
