New boss Carlo Ancelotti wants answers
JOHN TERRY will this week be told to hand in a written transfer request to prove he's serious about quitting Chelsea.
Manchester City have made a second move for the England skipper with a £30million offer.
But Chelsea will only do business at a staggering £45m - and only if Terry admits to the fans he wants to quit Stamford Bridge. That's the no-nonsense response from new Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti on the day he takes charge.
He's being backed by owner Roman Abramovich, who is not impressed by the way City's swoop for Terry has overshadowed the arrival of the Italian coach.
Officially Chelsea still insist that Terry, 29 this year, is not for sale at any price and will be held to his contract which runs until 2012.
With City ready to make a third approach at £45m, privately key figures at the Stamford Bridge club are dismayed by Terry's reluctance to quash the transfer talk.
At best they fear he will use the speculation to negotiate a new deal at Chelsea. He has three years to run on his existing £140,000 a week contract.
Chelsea might consider an increase but are adamant they will not match City's £280,000 a week deal.
The Blues are determined that if Terry, who has spent years cultivating his 'Mr Chelsea' image, does want to quit they will insist he puts a transfer request in writing to prove it.
This article has 139 comments
The main difference between Chelsea and Man City is that Chelsea were already a top 4 club and playing regular Euro/Champions league footi - Man City are/have not. Splashing the cash doesn't give you guaranteed success, Hughes will need to be at the top of his game keeping all the 'stars' happy because lets face it - if it all goes pear shape they will leave Man City faster than they could bank the money! Good luck though, I think Arsenal fans should be more concerned as I can see them finishing 5th at best next year!,
By Steve. Posted July 5 2009 at 8:56 AM.
he`s going make no mistake its only the price that to be negotiated the blue till I die Terry will sell himself out cos him and Lampard kiss badges and orofices alike if they pay the most
By Steve . Posted July 5 2009 at 8:54 AM.
Marco Van Basten - There's NO guarentee you will win trophies just because you've spent over the odds for average players ("because we can do" yawn, yawn), you lot say them same every pre-season, "europe this year, champions league this year" blah blah blah........
By POC. Posted July 5 2009 at 8:45 AM.
Terry should go to City, let's face it Chelski isn't going to win the CL so why should he play a load of meaningless games this season?
At City he can have a relaxed season bedding in with his new team mates, win a couple of domestic trophies and help plot the following seasons title race, he'll also have plenty of time to prepare himself for the World Cup with the best club facilities the England medical team have ever seen!
Face it people, the future's bright, the future's light blue and white!
By OG. Posted July 5 2009 at 8:23 AM.
re Chelsea Alan,
Get your facts correct before posting. City do not charge supporters £50 to watch a game. In fact our season cards have been REDUCED 7% by our owners. We will be watching quality players, winning trophies yet paying the least amount of money for the privilige.
Chelsea fans, 'dummy, corner, spit' please rearrange as us Northerns obviously have no talent, class , history blah blah . Or should that be Waaah, Waaaah?
By Marco Van Basten. Posted July 5 2009 at 8:17 AM.
Never going to happen i think you have more chance of seeing the queen pose nude for the NOTW
By Dan0. Posted July 5 2009 at 7:10 AM.
NO CHANCE IN HELL WILL TERRY MOVE TO MAN CITY PMSL, DREAM ON!!!!!!!!
By John Childmore. Posted July 5 2009 at 7:20 AM.
Good luck to City, I'm not sure if JT is worth it or not, but it is excellent to hear all the bleating comming from fans of the so called big 4 about buying success.
By Ged Red. Posted July 5 2009 at 7:18 AM.
one advice for City, try for 100 million pounds & £500,000 for Terry but even then both Chelsea & Terry will reject u. City haven't learned anything from Kaka saga. Even after breaking british transfer record City finished below Fulham & West Ham. It would take some time for City to realize that it takes more than just money to win trophies.
By deb. Posted July 5 2009 at 6:58 AM.
With JT's recurring back problems I think Chels should cash in, take the money and keep hold of their best centre back in Ricky Carvalho anyway! With Alex, Ivanovich, Mancienne and Jack Cork all desperate to step in Chelsea would be better off paying JT's top wages to a new striker!
By Chelsea-Alan. Posted July 5 2009 at 6:47 AM.
Paying 280k a week to a 29yr old defender, is making supporters look like real suckers. Do they really expect people to pay £50 odd quid entry to watch someone like that. Why not reduce entry fees and keep wages at their already rediculous level.
By Roger. Posted July 5 2009 at 6:05 AM.
City are only doing what chelsea done years ago..
paying silly money, to get a squad that can challenge for trophy's..
trouble is. kenyon and the chelsea owner .. don't like it. when their players are being tapped up.
pity that isn't it. only it was them doing it a few years ago...
keep it up blue boys.. it's great to be a city fan...lol
By PAULWOODHOUSE. Posted July 5 2009 at 5:53 AM.
If Man City pay £30,000,000 to £45,000,0000 it shows what a joke they are. The fans are in dream land for sure with all the money they now have and are splashing out but as a Chelsea fan I can tell them that when they win the league it will be very hollow as they only won it because someone rich bought them not because they did it the right way. Thats how I feel about Chelsea's titles and I am a Chelsea fan. Good luck anywy as It will hopefully mean Arsenal or Liverpool do not qualify for Champions league.
By Jay. Posted July 5 2009 at 5:59 AM.
Why would JT want to abandon top-flight European football the season before a World Cup? (Especially when it's almost certainly going to be his last)
By Adam. Posted July 5 2009 at 5:54 AM.
Utter rubbish if you think JT will be anywhere but SB next season. Team Captain, England Captain, Chelsea schoolboy, new manager, a league title to win back, a CL title to challenge for; need I go on. Probably just City trying to unsettle the Blues as they did to them with SWP. But it ain't gonna happen, not now, not never - and especially not with JT!
By Aloha. Posted July 5 2009 at 2:20 AM.
If Man City is willing to pay 45mill for a centre half that is on a rapid decline, more power to them. This feels like the exuberance before the (big bust) of football as we know it. Reminds me of the bust of teh dot.com days where people were paying crazy money just for an idea.
In this case, the idea that JT is still a player. This will be the end of Mark Hughes.
By CG. Posted July 5 2009 at 2:23 AM.
We have as much right to entertain trophy ambitions as everyone else. The has-beens need to do one.
By Pam . Posted July 5 2009 at 2:30 AM.
What is the football world coming to?Once upon a time people play soccer for fun. Now it has become big business.
Well some clubs are trying to shortcut by buying their way to success. I hope it doesn't work for the likes of MC,RM,MU.
Nothing is guaranteed in this world and I sincerely hope some will bite the dust although some fans may say their clubs are too big. Admittedly but some big names in the corporate world have fallen.As the saying goes the bigger you are the harder you fall and hopefully stay down.
By Wolfgang Fitzerald.. Posted July 5 2009 at 2:10 AM.
It makes me laugh at how many people slate city for 'throwing their weight around'.The thing is whether JT comes to city or not is not important.People are just going to have to get used to the fact that city are the new big boy's on the block and that the 'sky 4' are getting a new member.Question is who will drop out?We are very lucky indeed with our new owners and even if we dont sign a marquee player this window.You know in the not too distant future we will.
"Build it and they will come"
By Michaelo. Posted July 5 2009 at 1:51 AM.
It's not just about the money. He will have more chance of winning stuff at City from now on
By bert. Posted July 5 2009 at 1:50 AM.
Terry is a leader on the field but if he is prepared to leave for financial reasons then we should sell maybe we should bring Gallas back from Arsenal or buy Lesscott or the Newcastle centre back can't remember his name.
By pDzonu p. Posted July 5 2009 at 1:39 AM.
get used to it boyz... City are on the march, nowt you can do about it!
By Matt Diablo. Posted July 5 2009 at 1:31 AM.
please dont go jt your chelsea's rock at the back i love ya and so does every other chelsea fan
By billy skilton . Posted July 5 2009 at 1:22 AM.
steve what are you on about? whats wrong with taking a higher paid job? you don't see plumbers or doctors refusing extra money and promotions. and whats all this about city being seemingly not worthy of these top players? from what i remember chelsea were very mediocre until a certain russian gangster put his dirty money into the club
By Sam. Posted July 5 2009 at 12:51 AM.
Why, man city always goin towards chelsea ways? If there in need of terry. I think the should have him. Blue 4 life. Armoni frm jos
By Armoni. Posted July 5 2009 at 12:39 AM.
Why man city is always goin towards chelsea way? If there i need of terry. I think the should have him. Blue 4 life. Armoni frm jos
By Armoni. Posted July 5 2009 at 12:38 AM.
Terry has slowed and is not nearly as powerful in the air as he was. If Chelsea is offered 45m, they must jump at the opportunity. City would be insane to offer that amount for a 29-year old centre back with nagging injury issues. They would be lucky to get 8m back for him in a season or two's time.
By Sir Cecil. Posted July 5 2009 at 12:24 AM.
jt dot go
By rebecca. Posted July 5 2009 at 12:29 AM.
"Steve"
Come back to Planet Earth you guy's are getting back what you have sown.
Chelski pulled the same trick to get SWP and more recently Sturridge.
Hypocriptes
By Father Ted. Posted July 5 2009 at 12:07 AM.
Let's just look at the facts here, this is the same Man City that Kaka laughed at. It doesn't matter how much money they offer up, the lack of continental football this season would make any player not nearly as ready for next years world cup. So in my opinion JT will be the next in the long line of players to stick two fingers up to city. And he must know how much respect he has for staying at one club since a schoolboy, he's the club captain and national team captain. I can't see many of the England team respecting their captain if he swaps a team that are serious Champions League contenders to domestic cup hopefuls purely for an extra £150k per week, I'm sorry but surely he has plenty of money, isn't the top level football and the respect of his team mates, Mr Capello, as well as the average fan worth more?
By Phil. Posted July 5 2009 at 12:05 AM.
JT will neva leave !! come on you blooosss
By Supafrank. Posted July 4 2009 at 11:50 PM.
Terry please remember thak u are england captin if u go to man city make it.please am saying that u should not go. be at chelsea. please thank u
By Okwy. Posted July 4 2009 at 11:43 PM.
This is another way of giving Ancelotti two fingers on his appointment. He is better off getting rid of him asap. Chelsea have adequate cover in central defence. So good riddance!
By Michael Enweluzor. Posted July 4 2009 at 11:43 PM.
i Think chelsea did the same to us with SWP.We had to live with it.
By chris. Posted July 4 2009 at 11:41 PM.
Certainly is the way to do it, 280,000 reasons per week at a club that has given their manager their full backing, let's face it Terry hasn't quashed the rumours and Abramovich is obviously getting bored of having to folk out large sums, who will be the new Chelski manager six months from now?
By Jake. Posted July 4 2009 at 11:33 PM.
have just got back from a testimonial game at yeovil town where the main guest star was meant to be John terry, " 1/2 hours before kick off it was announced JT wouldn't be playing and all the talk around the ground was that he was talkn to man city.
then the announcement came over the tannoy to apologise for his abscnence but 'if you had the choice of driving to manchester to sort out a contract earning 300k a week or come down to Yeovil what would you do?'
Then at the end Terry Skiverton (yeovils manager who he game was in benefit for) came over the mic and said 'first of all i'd like to thank manchester city for having a bid accepted for my star guest a few hours before my testimonial'
don't know if this is common knowledge or not, incidently JTs brother Paul played in the game so i'm sure is pretty clued up on the whole affair
By glynn corcoran. Posted July 4 2009 at 11:32 PM.
looks like the boot is on the other foot now city r only doing what chelsea have done in the past live with it
city till i die!!
By steve. Posted July 4 2009 at 11:27 PM.
Sheer greed, It`s no longer about trophys any more, most players just see the £`s sign and don`t give a toss about the medals.
By Kevin. Posted July 4 2009 at 11:24 PM.
That's they way to do it if you want to leave Terry come out and say it. Lets face it, if a club is going to offer anything over £40m for a centreback, no matter how important he is most clubs are going to think about it.
By Steven. Posted July 4 2009 at 10:36 PM.