Reports have emerged of Championship side Aston Villa as the newest suitor for outgoing Chelsea star John Terry. And it is not even surprising anymore, given the number of lower and mid-table clubs that have shown interest since Terry announced his decision to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.
The 36-year-old has been offered a management position with the club, getting into which is his eventual target, but he wants to continue playing as of now. And Aston Villa’s audacious bid does seem the most lucrative yet, among all the other he has received so far. The Championship club is offering him something in the region of a whopping £4 million a year, after bonuses and incentives.
Other clubs, who have tried to land the Premier League’s old man include Villa’s rivals Birmingham City, Premier League sides Bournemouth, Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion, apart from Chinese League and Major League Soccer. And surprisingly, every English side is in the race by some way or another. Harry Redknapp, Birmingham’s boss shares a good equation with Terry and even managed him in Michael Carrick’s testimonial game.
West Bromwich are a rising club and Tony Pulis holds a big place in Terry’s heart given his coaching style. The Baggies have perhaps the biggest chance among all if they change their enquiry into a concrete offer. Swansea City boss Paul Clement knows him from his Chelsea days and undoubtedly shares the closest bond, while Bournemouth had already got an initial bid rejected and could get him with the second one.
Villa had endured an underwhelming season in the Championship last term as they finished 13th in the League table, garnering 62 points in 46 games. Despite some big names arriving at Villa Park, Steve Bruce has failed to churn out any positive result and is under immense pressure for next season. Terry will undoubtedly be a level up for them at the back and provide solidity to their already intact back line.
Terry has tonnes of experience under his belt owing to his long-term footballing career in the top-flight English football. He has played a whopping 492 games in the Premier League so far, scoring 41 goals and assisting 18 times. For Chelsea, he has played 690 games altogether, scoring 65 goals and assisting 29 times.
He has been in the Premier League for almost 22 years now, in which he has won 13 major trophies in all. For England national team, he has earned 78 caps since debuting back in 2003. He has won almost everything possible in a professional footballing career.
