Spurs players chase £3.5m jackpot

TOTTENHAM’S players will split a bonus pot of around £3.5million if they secure their return to the Champions League for next season. Spurs have not played in Europe’s top club competition for two years but are competing with Arsenal and Chelsea for the two remaining topfour spots. Sportsmail understands the squad would trigger a bonus of just over £1m for finishing fourth and more than £1.5m if they finish third. But the majority of Tottenham’s complex bonus scheme is spread across the season, to incentivise their players to win every game, with the amount going into the pot dependent on Spurs’ league position and that of their opponents at the time of each fixture. In total, Spurs’ players are set to net more than £3m between them if they finish in the top four. The bonus would be shared among the squad on a prorata basis based on appearances and minutes played. Several players are thought to have negotiated personal Champions League qualification bonuses into their contracts, too. Head coach Antonio Conte is also believed to have a bonus in his deal. Former manager Jose Mourinho’s windfall for qualifying for the competition was £2m, with sources indicating Conte’s is similar.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is known for rewarding his players with heavily incentivised cash agreements. In comparison, Sportsmail revealed in March that Arsenal’s players would receive up to £500,000 each if they make the top four, making their bonus scheme considerably more lucrative than Tottenham’s. Chelsea have not negotiated a Champions League qualification reward with their players. Their bonus system only pays out for winning trophies. The Blues are third, three points clear of fourth-placed Arsenal and five points in front of Tottenham, who are fifth with four games left.