Kalas the first face for Tigers
The former skipper is at the centre of a tugof-war between the two after a game of offer and counter-offer kicked off.
In midweek, Blues boss Harry Redknapp had been leading the race for the out-of-contract 36-year-old.
But now Steve Bruce has upped the ante and Villa have slapped more money on the table.
The ball is now in Birmingham’s court with neither owner wanting to lose face and no decision is now expected until the middle of this week – with Terry the ultimate winner.
The Blues are run by Trillion Trophy Asia, owned by Paul Suen, who has made a considerable fortune turning around distressed stock.
While Villa are controlled by Dr Tony Xia, an enigmatic tycoon who has attained billionaire status delivering huge infrastructure projects. A particular feature of business culture in the Far East is the obsession to save face – and neither is willing to back down.
It was thought Terry (left) would be heading to the Premier League with BOURNEMOUTH a leading contender to meet his £100,000-a-week pay demands. However, the four-time Premier League winner has reservations over tarnishing his legacy at Chelsea by playing against them in top-flight action next season.
Terry’s ultimate ambition is to return to Stamford Bridge and manage the club where he was idolised during a 22-year career as a ‘captain, leader, legend’.
However, the Barking-born stopper has other options. He can play next term in either MLS or the Chinese Super League. Terry’s decision will only endear him further to the Stamford Bridge crowd who were placed in a difficult spot when Frank Lampard joined Manchester City.
Lampard was the Blues’ record scorer – 211 in all competitions – and then netted against the west London club when he faced them at the Etihad.
If JT does, as seems likely, turn his back on the Premier League then his decision to drop down into the Championship with either of the Birmingham clubs will only add to the legend. TOMAS KALAS is on his way to HULL CITY as the first player to link up with new Tigers manager Leonid Slutsky. CHELSEA defender Kalas (left) was expected to go to Fulham next season. But it appears that the 24-year-old is the first deal to be done between the two clubs after the appointment of former Russia boss Slutsky. Slutsky is a close friend of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and that relationship has come into play. Czech international Kalas is unlikely to be the last new face from Stamford Bridge to be seen at the KCOM Stadium as the Tigers are also chasing Chelsea players on loan.