After 22 glorious years at the club, John Terry will depart Stamford Bridge for pastures anew when his contract expires in the summer.
Despite offers in previous years from clubs in the US and China, the former England captain has hinted that he would prefer to extend his stay in English football.
The 36-year-old is undoubtedly in the twilight years of his illustrious career, but with a wealth of experience, Premier League managers up and down the country will be running the rule over the defender. After all, Terry has won just about all there is to win at the highest level and, although his legs may not move at the speed they once did, his experience and nous are the sort of tools bosses will appreciate.
Here we take a look at which clubs may be interested in striking a deal with the 2005 PFA Player of the Year…
West Bromwich Albion
According to the Mirror, Tony Pulis’ side are favourites to land the 78-cap ex-England man.
West Brom have performed above expectation this year, and a top half finish looks extremely likely for the Baggies. Pulis has shown much ambition and off the back of a successful year will surely be backed in the transfer market by The Hawthorns club’s board.
If he can convince Terry to join his revolution, then we may see the league’s oldest centre-back pairing next season, with Northern Irishman Gareth McAuley approaching his 38th birthday.
Bournemouth
Eddie Howe’s minnows defied all expectations in reaching the Premier League, and have established themselves as a decent top flight side.
With a wealth of English talent in the squad, and Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere enjoying a loan spell on the South Coast, Terry may well see the seaside town as the perfect place to spend the latter stages of his career.
Bournemouth are a couple of signings away from breaking into the top half, and Terry could be the man to lead the Cherries to the next level.
Stoke City
Stoke have somewhat of a reputation for signing players past their prime, so they had to be included on this list. Peter Crouch, Glen Johnson and Michael Owen are all former England stars to have spent time in the Potteries, and a move for Terry may be a feasible option.
Mark Hughes enjoyed a spell at Chelsea in the late 1990s, and played alongside a fresh-faced Terry. The Mirror reported last month that Hughes had discussed a deal with Terry, but Stoke’s permanent move for Bruno Martins Indi is likely to scupper any switch.
However, if the funds become available, the Welshman may well be back in touch.
Crystal Palace
John Terry has spent his entire career in London and may well wish to remain in the capital.
Moves to Arsenal, Spurs or West Ham are unlikely, so perhaps a link up with former England manager Sam Allardyce would make sense. The two never crossed paths in the Three Lions set-up, but will know each other well from their time in the league. Allardyce’s side have struggled this season, and have flirted with relegation for the majority of the campaign.
An experienced head at the back may be exactly what the Eagles need.
Manchester United
If this deal were to go through, shockwaves would vibrate around the football world. Chelsea fans would be in
Chelsea fans would be in a state of uproar, with Man United fans delighted at their anger. Terry enjoyed one of the most successful spells of his career under Jose Mourinho, and a reunion with the Portuguese boss is not out of the question.
The Red Devils have struggled with injuries in recent years at the heart of their defence, and the acquisition of Terry could be a sensible short-term move.
