Chelsea Transfer News: John Terry Reportedly Close to China Deal, Latest Rumours

Chelsea legend John Terry is reportedly close to agreeing to a massive deal with an unspecified Chinese club, which could net him up to £12 million per season starting this summer transfer window.

That’s according to the Sun’s Jamie Gordon, who reports ex-England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, former Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari and one-time Blues star Dan Petrescu are interested in bringing him to China.

Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

The former England international appears set to leave the Blues, as his contract runs out at the end of the season, and the club is yet to give any indication an extension is on the horizon.

He was sent off in the defeat against Sunderland on Saturday, and ESPN FC’s Alex Shaw thinks Terry will never play another official match for the Blues:

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Chelsea career over for John Terry. Two yellows = red. One game ban (LFC). Additional game ban for sending off earlier in season. Bye.

— Alex Shaw (@AlexShawESPN) May 7, 2016"

Terry’s future has been a hotly debated topic for months now, and while he once seemed likely to end up in MLS, that no longer appears to be the case. American clubs have to work within a strict salary structure and are only allowed to hand massive salaries to designated players—they’re unlikely to spend their money on a defender, per Gordon.

Chinese clubs don’t have to worry about wages, as the sport is booming in the country, and international stars are moving east in huge numbers. And, per Gordon, Terry is quite popular in China:

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Chinese outfits are enjoying a state-backed spending spree and would be willing to shell out on the former England captain due to his huge popularity in the country.

The defender went on a one-man promotional trip — the JT Captain China Tour — last summer and went to Shanghai in March.

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Eriksson is currently in charge of Shanghai SIPG, while Scolari coaches Guangzhou Evergrande, the current champions. Petrescu manages Jiangsu Suning—the same club that bought Ramires and former Shakhtar Donetsk star Alex Teixeira this winter.

Former Chelsea forward Demba Ba, who now plays for Shanghai Shenhua, has urged the veteran to join him in the Far East, per Justin Allen of the Sun:

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If Eden Hazard was to ring, I’d tell him not to be silly and stay where he is.

But if John contacts me, I’d tell him, ‘Get on the next plane over here... what are you waiting for?’

Look, John is still a top player that can perform in any of Europe’s top leagues so he doesn’t need to come here.

But at the age of 35, he has nothing to prove to anybody anymore and if he can get one last huge contract here, it would be more than welcome to him I think.

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At the age of 35, Terry no longer ranks among the Premier League’s top defenders, and with every passing day, his chances of staying with the Blues grow less. Incoming manager Antonio Conte has always enjoyed working with veterans who can have a good influence on the squad, but the Italian is expected to add younger options and rebuild the back line.

Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images

AS Roma’s Antonio Rudiger appears to be the preferred option, per Calciomercatoweb (h/t the Daily Express’ Joe Short), and he, Kurt Zouma and Andreas Christensen could form an excellent trio at some point down the road.

Another British club doesn’t seem to be an option for Terry, and if the gap in wages in MLS is that different, the choice should be an easy one.

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