Manchester City prepare third bid for John Terry
03 Jul 2009 - 20:25:54
City sources insist that the club has been given grounds for encouragement that Terry may be prised away from Stamford Bridge and are to test Chelsea's resolve further.
For their part Chelsea claim that the statement they released on Thursday, saying they had 'completely rejected' City's latest approach was endorsed by Terry.
Related ArticlesChelsea reject City bid for TerryTurkish frenzy for VassellSport on televisionPremier League Transfer TalkPapers: Michael Owen pay cut to join Man United, Chelsea reject City bid for John TerryLiverpool Transfer TalkUnlike in January, however, when Chelsea first refused City permission to speak to the defender, Terry has not, as yet, issued his own statement. He is currently on holiday.
Chelsea are adamant that Terry is not for sale, no matter what City offer, and it may well be that to force through the transfer the 28-year-old himself would have to ask for a move. That is highly unlikely to happen given Terry's commitment to Chelsea.
It's thought Terry may have been concerned earlier last season at Chelsea's progress under Luiz Felipe Scolari, and the sale of Wayne Bridge to City, and this may be what is partly still encouraging City now.
At the same time Chelsea may have work to do to placate Jose Bosingwa who is believed to have become unsettled after it became clear that the club was trying to sign Glen Johnson as his replacement. Bosingwa was offered to Bayern Munich as part of the discussions to sign Franck Ribery and although, so far, the German club has refused to sell its star asset it remains interested in the Portuguese right-back. Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge stated yesterday that he had not given up on Bosingwa.
With Chelsea's players due to meet new manager Carlo Ancelotti tomorrow, the club hopes that a deal can still be struck for Andrei Shevchenko, who is due to return on 9 July, not to see out the final year of his contract. Dynamo Kiev's president Ihor Surkis confirmed on Friday that Shevchenko's former club had made an offer to him to join them as a player and coach.
'His reaction to the proposal was very positive. Everything now depends strictly on him,' he said. Shevchenko will try and negotiate a pay-off from Chelsea.
Meanwhile Manchester City's teenage striker Daniel Sturridge has moved to Stamford Bridge.
Sturridge, 19, an England Under-20 international has signed a four-year deal with Chelsea after his contract at Eastlands expired. A tribunal will set the fee.
