Chelsea skipper Terry: Are you sure you want to keep me at the Bridge?

09 July 2009 00:53
John Terry will hold informal talks with the Chelsea hierarchy with his future at Stamford Bridge still shrouded in uncertainty. While Carlo Ancelotti has publicly insisted it would be 'impossible' for the England captain to move to Manchester City after their initial bid of £28million was rejected last week, the success of today's meeting - as well as the discussions that will inevitably follow - will determine if Terry remains the 'symbol' of the Chelsea team. Terry appeared more than committed to the Chelsea cause when he followed victory in the FA Cup final by urging his employers to strengthen Ancelotti's team with the capture of players like David Villa and Franck Ribery. But when Terry meets the new Chelsea manager for the first time on his return to training, having spoken to him just once on the phone a month ago, the only new names on the roster will be £18million Russia winger Yuri Zhirkov, goalkeeper Ross Turnbull and striker Daniel Sturridge. For all the confidence being shown by Chelsea that Terry will remain as the club's skipper, it will be the first time that both sides get a clearer idea of where everyone stands. Right now Chelsea are no more certain about Terry's intentions than the player is that Chelsea really are committed to keeping him. Chief executive Peter Kenyon has already said the skipper will not be offered a new contract - even though City are prepared to more than double his current £130,000-a-week wage. Owner Roman Abramovich has made it clear that while he will finance one 'marquee signing', Ancelotti must raise the cash through player sales to fund a move for Porto defender Bruno Alves. Abramovich is ready to go head to head with Europe's footballing superpowers in the race to sign Ribery despite Bayern Munich's £70million valuation, while free agent Carlos Tevez is another player Ancelotti wants to sign. But a further move for Alves is likely to depend on Chelsea's ability to offload Ricardo Carvalho and Deco to Inter Milan for a combined fee in the region of £15m. A compromise will need to be reached quickly as Barcelona are also keen on Alves after the 27-yearold's impressive campaign for the Portuguese champions. Alves said: 'I'm open to a move to England. I'm aware of Chelsea's interest and also Barcelona. But I'm under contract to Porto and any decision comes down to my club.' Ancelotti presented Turnbull with his shirt yesterday as the free transfer from Middlesbrough was unveiled as a Chelsea player. Insisting he is ready to fight Petr Cech for a starting place and dismissing suggestions he had been signed with a view to impending UEFA regulations regarding homegrown players, Turnbull said: 'I haven't just come to Chelsea to sit on the substitutes' bench. Petr Cech is obviously one of the best goalkeepers in the world, but I want to challenge him and Hilario.' This afternoon it is the turn of Sturridge to be unveiled to the media, with the fee for his move from City yet to be decided by a tribunal.

Source: Daily_Mail