If we're going to use Italian media as a barometer of what we did or didn't do re talks with Conte, well potentially we might have to go along with the narrative i've seen from Italian media: Levy pulled out of talks once it became clear that Conte would be as expensive as any man on the street would think it would be. That is, the sort of discussion that would likely take an afternoon, even over the phone, to work out.
Sacking Jose before a cup final and a game to win a trophy - the very reason we hired a manager like Jose in the first place - looks shoddy and dis-organised, especially now.
If there actually wasn't a manger lined up to take over, then at the very least it looks like money to pay out in compensation afterwards (if we had won) was of more importance to keep low than the possibility of the club winning an actual trophy.