Contract clauses and other deals dampen the soccer transfer process at times. Although it’s all done and dusted according to reports of how Mauricio Pochettino will probably become the new USMNT coach, there is one more hurdle. His old club, Chelsea, owes some compensation after he left them. Therefore, a slight delay has hampered the deal with no major glitches per se.

Insider Mark Ogden came to ESPN to deliver his thoughts on the issue. He detailed the entire process with Pochettino, who earned a $13.2 million year paycheck in Chelsea. The manager left the Blues by mutual consent after the club decided to pull the plug on his tenure. However, he still had one year left in his contract.

Ogden stated, “So basically, where we are at the moment is that Pochettino, I have been told, other people reported as well, he has agreed to take the job. But right now, it’s not a signed-done deal. Because there is still an element of compensation to come from Chelsea. It could be as such 10 million pounds (13 million dollars).”

Like everywhere, the clubs pay compensation to a manager when they leave before the end of the contract. Chelsea, in particular, has paid heavy sums to managers after they leave the club. Notably, Thomas Tuchel $16.7 million after leaving Chelsea, according to 90 min. But in terms of the king of pay-offs, Jose Mourinho accumulated $69.1 million in compensation when he left Manchester United, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur. Just astonishing!

As for Mauricio Pochettino, Tottenham Hotspur paid over $16.1 to terminate his contract. As usual, all financial deals are subjected to inflation. Yet, there is positive news for the Argentine coach who itches closer to the USMNT move.

Mauricio Pochettino is to finalize his contract soon!

Significantly, Chelsea remains pleased with the coach who will eventually join the USMNT instead of a top-six Premier League side. If he did join and the club performed, fans would point fingers at Chelsea’s problems in running a soccer club.

Ogden continued, “Now Chelsea was happy for him to leave, and he was happy to leave. But still, he was under contract. Now, there is a suggestion that I have been told that Chelsea was expecting compensation had he moved to a fellow top-6 Premier League club. That won’t be applied to the US.”

So, the deal is yet to be completed, but the distance remains close. Mauricio Pochettino would probably sign a contract and join the USMNT to lead the country to glory. Do you think Chelsea will tighten the compensation clause, or will they pay him without a hassle?