Dilemma for Terry over Chelsea deal
JOHN TERRY has admitted he faces an agonising quandary over whether to stay at Chelsea after the club offered him a new contract on less basic pay.
Following months of speculation over his future, Chelsea have offered their captain a one-year deal.
Terry, 35, earns around £140,000 a week at Stamford Bridge, but the new contract is believed to be heavily incentivised and linked to appearances.
He has lucrative offers from China, while Qatari club Al-Arabi are also interested, and he would consider a switch to America. But Terry’s emotional attachment to Chelsea is strong, having joined at 14.
The new offer indicates that Terry, if he decides to stay, may have to settle for a peripheral role next season.
Indeed, on the player’s Instagram account last night, Terry pointed towards having to accept a bit-part role.
He stated there: ‘The contract extension that the club has offered me is a different role and I hope everyone will understand that I want to take time to consider it carefully before making a decision.’
He revealed in January that he had been refused an extension and this U-turn comes after fans protested at their hero being shown the door.
Chelsea end their season at home to champions Leicester City tomorrow and, although Terry is suspended for the match, the club want to avoid a repeat of the demonstrations staged by fans during Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Liverpool.
But it’s understood that supporters plan to unfurl a giant Terry banner at Stamford Bridge.
It remains to be seen just how regularly the former England skipper will play under new Chelsea manager Antonio Conte next season.
The club’s decision to make their contract offer public puts the onus on his future purely on Terry.
Chelsea insist that the delay in offering Terry fresh terms was because Conte needed time to consider whether he wanted to keep the defender.
Terry and his representatives met Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia and chairman Bruce Buck for talks at their Cobham training ground on Wednesday.
A club spokesman said yesterday: ‘Marina Granovskaia and Bruce Buck met John and his agent this week and offered him a one-year contract extension. With it having come so late in the season, this is a big decision for John and his family and it is something that they are now considering.’
Guus Hiddink, taking charge of his last Chelsea game tomorrow, revealed that he had been speaking to the club about Terry’s situation. ‘I talk to the people inside every now and then,’ said Hiddink, who attended Chelsea’s Player of the Year awards last night. He is already 21 years in this club. I saw an image of him coming in as a youngster. That’s why they become legends.’