John Terry in negotiations regarding new Chelsea role
John Terry will not be offered a playing extension for next season, but Chelsea are reportedly keen to transition him to another role at the club.
This is probably not the most surprising news that you will hear, especially given what transpired last season, but John Terry will not be offered a contract extension this summer. The Chelsea captain was made to wait last time around, but this season the decision appears more clear-cut.
The Times (subscription required) reports, in an exclusive, that the Blues are not keen on retaining Terry for his playing services. However, they are eager to keep him at Stamford Bridge in another role.
"This will be his last season as a player with Chelsea as the club begin the process of finding another role for him…The club want Terry to stay at the club, however, and are planning to discuss whether a combination of coaching and ambassadorial duties could persuade him to retire at the end of the season."
Amidst a shambolic 2015/16 campaign, Terry’s contract situation was one of the more distasteful sagas. The Blues failed to inform the captain whether he would be retained, leading to a public and emotional expression of his frustration.
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Eventually, the board did hand the lifelong Blue a one-year deal, but the ordeal was indicative of the type of season Chelsea endured.
This time, they are evidently keen to avoid the same scenario and have made their intentions clear. Furthermore, the talks have been described as ‘informal and cordial’, suggesting that there is a mutual understanding of the club’s position.
Few people could argue against Chelsea’s unwillingness to extend Terry’s playing career. The captain has only played five Premier League games this season, due to a combination of injury problems and Antonio Conte preferring other defenders.
At the age of 36, Terry must know that his time in the top flight is up. Now, the question is whether he is willing to retire. The Englishman will inevitably have a slew of lucrative offers come his way should he consider playing next season. China and Major League Soccer will be keen to have him as a special attraction, even if it’s for one year only.
However, Terry has reportedly indicated a desire to see out the season with the Blues. This gives the Chelsea board plenty of time to negotiate a contract and role that benefits all parties involved.
Given that he has only know one club throughout his professional life, it seems unlikely that he will sever ties with West London. What do you think his ideal role would be? Sound off in the comments below!