Aston Villa are pursuing a deal for defender John Terry.
John Terry after his final match for Chelsea
According to The Mirror, defender John Terry is reluctant to join a Premier League club, meaning a move to Aston Villa may be drawing ever closer.
Terry, 36, ended his 22-year association with Chelsea last month by playing his final game for the club against Sunderland, his 717th and final appearances for the Blues.
John Terry
In a glittering career at Stamford Bridge, Terry captained Chelsea to five Premier League titles, FA Cups, three League Cups, one Champions League title and one Europa League title as he became one of English football’s top defenders.
Now though, Terry is a free agent given that his Chelsea contract has not been extended, and many clubs are vying to sign him despite his advancing years and limited time left in his career.
John Terry warms up
The Mirror report that Bournemouth, Swansea and West Brom are all keen on Terry, but he is currently reluctant to join another Premier League club as it would mean facing Chelsea.
That means that Aston Villa could be leading the race for Terry’s signature, given that the defender would instead be open to dropping down into the Championship – though Birmingham City are also keen.
General view inside Villa Park
The Sun report that Terry is strongly considering a £60,000-a-week offer to join Villa this summer, meaning Steve Bruce’s men appear to be emerging as the clear favourites to land a major coup.
Terry could partner James Chester in the heart of the Aston Villa defence next season, with Bruce looking to take the club back to the Premier League – and with Terry marshalling the defence, Villa could be strong defensively next season.
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