Sacking Sam Allardyce as manager could reportedly cost Everton up to £16m, if they choose to replace him with Marco Silva.

The former Watford head coach is the current favourite to take over at Goodison Park but that could force the Blues to pay his previous club £8m in compensation, according to Sky Sports News.

The Hornets are said to have reported Everton to the Premier League, accusing them of making an illegal approach for their former manager last year, and as a result the Merseysiders could be compelled to pay a settlement figure.

Paying off the year that was outstanding on Allardyce's contract, along with a bonus for keeping the club in the Premier League, is believed to have set Everton back around £6m.

The remainder of the £16m figure comes from settlement fees paid out to Allardyce's backroom staff members - Sammy Lee, Craig Shakespeare and Martyn Margetson - totalling around £2m.