Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp believes that Chelsea will eventually offer John Terry a new contract despite the fact that he announced he would be leaving at the end of the season.
Having been told that his deal would not be renewed by the club, the influential captain will consider his options in the summer which will take him abroad after ruling out a move to another Premier League side.
Although the situation could still change depending on the plans of the next permanent manager with Guus Hiddink set to step away at the end of the season, it remains to be seen whether or not the 35-year-old will continue his story at Stamford Bridge.
“He’s the sort of guy that could have a fantastic run until the end of the season and they end up giving him a new contract at the end of the year,” Redknapp told Sky Sports.
“I still don’t think it is the end of it yet, I still feel there could be a twist and turn in this one, you’d like to hope that Chelsea would see some sense and realise what this man still has to offer. I am surprised in one way, obviously because of what he can offer the football club, but in another way I am not.
“I’d be doing everything I could to keep hold of John Terry at my football club if I was the owner or manager. I think he’s got so much to offer, not only the first team but whenever you go to the academy he’s always the poster boy there. He’s the last player they brought through if you like, that has become a regular in the first team.”
Terry has made 26 appearances in all competitions so far this season, and has seemingly come through a difficult period earlier in the campaign which saw him dropped by Jose Mourinho after a string of poor displays.
Although there have been signs of decline in his performances this year, the former England international is seemingly getting back to somewhere near his best and it remains to be seen whether or not he can convince the club hierarchy, and the future manager, that he still has plenty left to offer for another year at least.
If not, Terry is expected to join the exodus to MLS with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard making the move Stateside in the last 12 months, although there is likely to be interest from around Europe too.
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