Terry will leave Chelsea after 22 years this summer and Saunders reckons the defender is good enough for his old club, Liverpool.
Chelsea’s John Terry
Dean Saunders believes a fit and motivated John Terry would still be the Premier League’s best defender.
Terry confirmed his imminent departure from Stamford Bridge on Sunday, having failed to feature in a Blues league fixture since November.
Bournemouth and West Bromwich Albion are among the early front runners to sign the 36-year-old, although Saunders told Talksport on Tuesday he’d even get in to Liverpool’s team.
“If the candle’s still burning inside him and he still wants to do it and he’s fit, he’s the best defender in the league still,” the Welshman said.
“I’ve watched some of the defending that’s going on, week in, week out, and he’s getting in Liverpool’s team before (their current centre-halves).”
Saunders, who followed in his father’s footsteps by playing for Liverpool, believes the only reason Terry hasn’t featured frequently for Chelsea is because Antonio Conte favours a three-man back line as opposed to a more traditional two-man operation, to which the former England captain is better suited.
One team currently deploying the latter system is Southampton, who could be in the market for a new centre-half this summer, with one of their own, Virgil van Dijk, linked with moves to Chelsea and Liverpool, among others.
Southampton’s Chelsea and Liverpool linked defender Virgil Van Dijk
Saunders, however, doesn’t fancy the Saints chances. “He’ll have a dilemma: China, £400-grand a week and fizzle out my career. But is the standard any good? Probably not, I won’t enjoy it,” the 52-year-old added.
“(Or) do I go to, for example, Southampton? Am I going to win anything? He’s used to winning things. He doesn’t want to coast and get beat one week, win the next week. I don’t think he wants that situation.
“As I said, he would get in Liverpool’s team tomorrow, if he’s fit and got the fire in his belly.”
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