Aston Villa: John Terry arrival may be closer than previously thought
By Phil Newman
Remarkably, this rumor simply will not die. Chelsea legend John Terry may or may not be thinking about the chance to join Steve Bruce’s Aston Villa squad. The claret and blues won’t actually sign Terry? Or will they?
Aston Villa finally made their intentions clear. Steve Bruce is all-in on signing John Terry, 36, for the club. Bruce is interested in Terry for a full promotion push come the fall.
Never in a million years would one expect John Terry in the claret and blue, but here we are. Or are we?
BREAKING: Aston Villa are interested in signing former Chelsea captain John Terry, according to Sky sources #SSNHQ
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 12, 2017
Photo: John Terry with Steve & Alex Bruce in Portugal. [ig johnterry26] #avfc pic.twitter.com/clhrNVPkib
— villareport (@villareport) June 9, 2017
John Terry would bring a crazy amount of fanfare to the club, but can he still produce? Moreover, what kind of deal would he sign? The England legend played less than 500 minutes of Premier League football last season, so it’s difficult to tell. He played well when used sparingly, but the Championship is a whole other animal.
It’s clear that Terry, turning 37, won’t be able to play weekday matches after a weekend fixture. Unfortunately, Villa faces several of those every month. His defensive quality would likely play well with either Nathan Baker or James Chester at his side. Perhaps a 3 a center back system?
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He’ll still bring his aerial dominance, but his lack of pace ensures the back line must always remain in sync.
For what it is worth, Terry is still mulling all options, including those in the Premier League, Major League Soccer, and the Chinese Super League.
Both Sky Sports and The Sun mention Terry as mulling the offer.
Bournemouth are still the favorites after offering a £100,000 a week package to remain in the Premier League. Likewise, newly-promoted side Brighton & Hove Albion are chasing Terry as well.
We may find out soon enough whether Terry wants to play for Steve Bruce. One would think it wise to limit any potential deal to one year / one year + an option. Aston Villa could rue a multi-year deal on high wages. A few sites state a “promotion bonus” as a financial incentive.