Chelsea supporters might want to keep an eye on the goings-on at the Santiago Bernabeu in the coming weeks.
Most fans expected Chelsea to have already parted ways with Antonio Conte, with several Premier League clubs already beginning preparations for next season in the transfer department.
Conte is not expected to be in the Stamford Bridge dugout come the start of the next campaign, despite winning the FA Cup last month.
But there is a reason why the Blues have not yet handed the Italian his marching orders and, as is usually the case, money is the reason.
The Telegraph reports that Chelsea will be forced to stump up a £9 million pay-off unless Conte walks straight into another job and, apparently, the club remains hopeful of seeing him fill the current managerial vacancy at Real Madrid.
The La Liga giants are on the hunt for a new manager after Zinedine Zidane shocked the world by deciding to resign just days after delivering the club's third consecutive Champions League trophy.
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Real have lost ground in their pursuit of Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, while the potential appointment of either Massimiliano Allegri or Arsene Wenger is looking less likely right now.
If Real president Florentino Perez decides to appoint Conte, who is currently joint-third favourite for the job, then Chelsea would not have to provide him with a pay-off.
The London club appears to be eager to wait the situation out and if nobody comes calling for Conte, they will just be forced to bite the bullet and part ways with the £9 million.
