Roman's £8m bill for Claudio

Roman Abramovich could be forced to pay Claudio Ranieri £8million compensation - the biggest ever pay-off in British football - if he sacks him in the summer as expected.

The club is already being sued for £2m by former chairman Ken Bates and together it may leave Abramovich with a £10m bill for restructuring the club.

Ranieri seems increasingly resigned to the fact that his future lies away from Stamford Bridge following more relentless speculation this week about his job.

But as he takes Chelsea into tonight's huge Champions League quarter-final first leg clash against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, he can at least look forward to a huge compensation settlement.

The Italian was given a five-year £50,000-a-week contract by Bates two years ago and is line to get £7.8m if dismissed. He will also be entitled to various bonus payments if he guides Chelsea to success in the Premiership and Europe.

Most clubs would baulk at such an expensive compensation package but such sums are nothing to Abramovich. Leeds were driven to the brink of bankruptcy by £3.7m and £2m pay-outs to David O'Leary and Terry Venables respectively but even £10m would hardly trouble Abramovich.