Tottenham Hotspur chairman, Daniel Levy, decided to fire Jose Mourinho in the fear that up to 10 first-team players would push to leave this summer if he remained in charge, according to Eurosport.
Mourinho was sacked on Monday after 17 months in charge of the north London club.
It is understood Levy took the decision because he didn't want to lose his 'dream team' of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Gareth Bale at the end of this season.
Spurs are desperate to keep striker Kane, but the England captain is attracting a lot of interest already. The player has insisted he will not make a decision after the Euro 2020 competition.
Levy is also a big fan of Alli, despite the midfielder failing to hit top form in the last two seasons. Alli endured a frosty relationship with Mourinho, making just two starts in the league this campaign and was left out of the squad entirely for seven games between October and December.
Bale, who joined on loan from Real Madrid, last month raised doubts over the chances of him returning to the club on a permanent deal at the end of the season.
The Welsh winger only started six league fixtures under Mourinho and was used more frequently in the Europa League.
Harry Winks had also been frozen out by Mourinho, with the midfielder making just two league appearances since the end of January.
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