Chelsea have not communicated with John Terry about renewing his contract, according to the captain himself, and it looks increasingly likely that he will not be staying in Lodon next year.
The 35-year-old opened up to the press after drawing Manchester United on Sunday, saying that he "made it very clear" that he wanted to stay, but that there has been no communication. He even went as far as to say that he doesn't believe he'll retire with the Blues, leading to speculation surrounding a possible move to the United States or even China.
Terry joined the club when he was 14 years old and has won everything there is to win with them, including four Premier League titles, five FA cups, three League cups, the Champions League, and the Europa League. Not only is he a club legend, but he will also leave a legacy as one of the most decorated defenders in the Premier League.
Willian believes Terry will have to leave
Despite insistence from the club that no final decision has been made on Terry's future, his teammate Willian seemed convinced in an interview with Squawka.
“The club won’t probably extend his contract," the Brazilian admitted. "I can just wish him the best of luck for the rest of his career.”
Chelsea have claimed that any decision about Terry's future with the club will be made by the next manager, who will not be named until the end of the season after the defender's contract runs out.
While it has been no secret that the captain is aging, the fans still produced a strong reaction to the news that his contract would not be renewed. Even pundit Thierry Henry said his piece on the subject.
"As soon as he said what he did last week, Chelsea were quick to say, 'we are open to discussions,'" the former Arsenal striker said. "I think whoever is dealing with the discussions didn't expect the reaction from the fans, but it's the right one. He has to be here. The guys they buy are not going to have the same influence he is having."
And the "Captain, Leader, Legend" certainly does have a lot of influence within the team. Regarded as a natural leader and a true Blue, it will be difficult for Chelsea to find another player that can have the same effect that Terry does.
Willian himself echoed this in his interview, saying, “He is definitely one of the greatest or maybe the greatest player of Chelsea’s history. He’s won everything for this club. He is respected by all of us.
“I’m thankful for having the opportunity to play beside him," he continued. "I’ve learnt a lot from John Terry.”
Who will step up?
When one door closes, another one opens, as they say. Although Terry's departure will be a teary-eyed one for the club and all its fans, it may also create an opportunity for another defender to earn his way up to the first team spot.
Andreas Christensen seems to be a likely candidate. The in-form defender is currently on loan at Borussia Mönchengladbach, who have expressed interest in signing him permanently. However, there is a possibility that the English club could call him back over the summer.
The 19-year-old has made it clear that he does not want to return to London if he will not receive any playing time, but understandably, he will have to allow time to adjust to the Premier League and settle into the team should he return. Given his impressive record in Germany, it may be a wise choice to give him a shot.
In addition, of course, Chelsea have made it clear they will continue their efforts to bring in John Stones from Everton. While calling up Christensen would save more money, either choice would have the potential to form a tantalising partnership with Kurt Zouma in the heart of Chelsea's defence.