Mahrez mocks Spurs, again
CHELSEA manager Antonio Conte is planning to phase John Terry out of his squad during the next two transfer windows.
Conte has overseen a brilliant defensive transformation at Stamford Bridge during the opening weeks of the season, shooting the Blues to the top of the Premier League — conceding just one goal in seven games.
Nevertheless, the Italian wants to add new defenders to his ranks during the January transfer window and then the summer, with Juventus’ Leonardo Bonucci and and Roma’s Antonio Rudiger among the names Chelsea are interested in.
Terry, partly owing to injury, hasn’t started in any of Chelsea’s seven-game winning streak and he will be pushed down further the defensive pecking order if Conte has his way in the transfer market.
Similarly, with Kurt Zouma approaching a first-team return, the chances of Terry regaining his place this season are looking bleak.
All the indications are that Terry, if he wants to continue his playing career, will have to look elsewhere at the end of the season.
Terry will become a free agent when his deal expires at the end of the season.
Having earned £140,000 (RM742,000)-per-week at the end of last season, the Blues captain agreed a hefty pay-cut to stay at Stamford Bridge for a further 12 months. LONDON: It’s been almost seven months since Tottenham imploded against Chelsea and handed the Premier League title to Leicester but Riyad Mahrez (pic) is still rubbing it in.
Forget Claudio Ranieri’s ‘dilly ding’ remarks or Robert Huth being undressed by Scott Dann in the Crystal Palace penalty area, Spurs’ draw at Stamford Bridge — when they needed to win to stay in
But the deal included a significant appearance fee, which would have topped up Terry’s salary to a sum closer to his previous wage.
However, his lack of action so far this season could make a lucrative move abroad an attract proposition for Terry.
Shanghai Shenhua, who have recently appointed former Chelsea midfielder Gus Poyet as manager, remains a potential destination for Terry, who can start discussing a potential free transfer summer move abroad from Jan 1.
But the 35-year-old will not consider reuniting with Poyet in Shanghai until the end of the current campaign.
The Chelsea captain knows he could earn up to £12 million a year abroad but, instead, he is determined to see out the season at Stamford Bridge and hopes to win a fifth Premier League title.
Terry’s season has been blighted by niggling ankle and gluteus injuries limiting him to just seven appearances yet he remains positive he can make a contribution to Antonio Conte’s squad.
With Andreas Christensen set to return from Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer, Terry will take stock of his options then with clubs in Turkey, the MLS and Middle East also willing to make him offers.
Terry has spent 21 years at Chelsea and made over 700 appearances. He hopes to continue playing for another the title hunt yet threw away a twogoal lead — is rated by Mahrez as the funniest moment of last season.
Goals from Gary Cahill and Eden Hazard ensured the topflight crown would be heading to the King Power Stadium and Leicester’s players, gathered at two while he is also preparing for the next phase of his career by taking his coaching badges. Jamie Vardy’s house, could celebrate.
Mahrez still has fond memories of the occasion.
“The funniest moment (of last season)? I think it was when Tottenham were 2-0 ahead of Chelsea at halftime,” he told FourFourTwo.
“All the team were at Vardy’s house thinking ‘we’re probably not going to be champions tonight.’
“I was like, ‘What’s the point of
will become a free agent when his deal expires at the end of the season.
CHANGE: Conte already has replacements in mind for skipper
coming today?!’ and then they drew 2-2. It was funny.”
Leicester’s defence of their champions tag is not going according to plan, however.
The Foxes currently lie 14th in the Premier League table with 13 points, fully 11 points worse off than Tottenham.
Perhaps it will be Mauricio Pochettino’s men who get the last laugh, after all. Daily Mail