It is hard to identify where Tottenham's season started to stumble, but it seems pretty clear that Antonio Conte's rant after their draw against Southampton will be a turning point in his relationship with the team, which may force the team's hierarchy to part ways with the Italian boss.

With that in mind, and even if Conte was keen on leaving Spurs by the end of the season, chairman Daniel Levy may be forced to sack the Italian before the end of the campaign, and that will not come easy...or cheap.

According to a report by the Daily Mail, Conte could be living his final hours as Spurs' boss if the team can find a way to negociate his mammoth severance clause of $5M. Added to that, the coach's staff would also be paid over $1M for their pending wages. 

A source close to the negotiations has stated that once those paychecks have been agreed, then Conte and his staff will no longer be part of Tottenham's payroll.

"President Daniel Levy is willing to fire Antonio Conte in the ongoing International Break, and inner discussions about the terms of his exit are already taking place. Once they reach an agreement, Conte's exit will take no time," the source told the Daily Mail.

The same source told the English media outlet that Thomas Tuchel, Roberto de Zerbi, Mauricio Pochettino, and even former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique have been considered as potential replacements for Conte, with Tuchel allegedly being the frontrunner for the coaching gig.

Conte joined Tottenham as Nuno Espirito Santo's replacement in November 2021. He led Spurs to a fourth-place finish last season, earning them the right to play Champions League football. Nevertheless, the team's woes in the continental tournament and their inconsistent form this season could see the Italian out of a job before next week.