It will cost Sunderland around £4 million to sack Gus Poyet.
The Independent says Sunderland's board are split over the future of their manager after defeat at home to Arsenal.
Poyet, 46, appears to be on borrowed time even though it will cost the club around £4 million to relieve him of his duties because there is no stipulated level of compensation he receives in the contract he signed last May that runs to the summer of 2016.
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