Chelsea Transfer News: John Terry in Gus Poyet, Shanghai Shenhua Offer Rumours

Shanghai Shenhua are reportedly ready to give Chelsea captain John Terry "a lucrative payday" to convince him to join the club.

According to James Olley of the Evening Standard, Gus Poyet, the new manager of the Chinese Super League side and former Blues midfielder, wants to make the veteran defender his first signing. Terry is said to be open to what would be a fascinating new challenge "depending on the financial package on offer."

Olley added that the 35-year-old would prefer to stay at Stamford Bridge if possible, although his contract with the club is due to expire at the end of the current season, and he's fallen a long way down the pecking order under new manager Antonio Conte.

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Terry stressed recently that despite his advancing years, he still feels as though he has something to offer for a while yet.

"I still want to play for a couple more years," he said, per Olley. "Whether that is at Chelsea or somewhere abroad, I don't know. It's an option. I am contracted to Chelsea for this season, and then will see after that."

Bleacher Report's Dean Jones recently ran the rule over speculation linking Terry with a move to China:

Should Terry move anywhere, it'd be strange to see him don the colours of another club. The centre-back has become synonymous with Chelsea and has been their leader for what has been the most successful spell in the team's history.

Behind the scenes, Terry will still offer plenty to the Blues. Few know the club quite like the former England captain, and his presence will be invigorating for all at Chelsea, whether they be first-team players, academy prospects or staff members.

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However, his influence on the field looks to have waned. The manager recently switched to a 3-4-3 system, and the Blues have turned in a series of dominant performances to move to the top of the Premier League table; defensive stalwarts Terry and Branislav Ivanovic have played only minor roles in that rise.

Squawka Football summed up just how impressive the Blues have been since Conte decided to make a significant change in the team's formation:

For Terry, a move abroad may be daunting, so the prospect of working under someone familiar like Poyet could make the switch a little more appealing—the two were team-mates together at Chelsea. Evidently, the salary package on offer will also play a substantial role.

Shanghai have already made some high-profile acquisitions in the past, including ex-Chelsea striker Demba Ba. Colombia international Fredy Guarin is also on the club's books, as is former Newcastle United forward Obafemi Martins.