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Chelsea dismiss new Man City ploy to lure John Terry
Andrew Fifield15 Jul 2009
Chelsea have rejected Mark Hughes's claim that John Terry is interested in quitting them for Manchester City and insist their unsettled skipper will fly to America with the rest of the squad for their pre-season tour.
The Blues are braced for a third bid from City — likely to be worth close to £40million — after already rejecting two offers for Terry, who has yet to publicly pledge his future to the club.
That continued silence has encouraged Hughes, with the City bossstepping up his pursuit of the
England captain yesterday when he suggested he could be tempted by “a change of scenery” after spending his entire career at Stamford Bridge.
Hughes said: “We would like to think we could offer him a different challenge. From my own experience when you have been with a club for a long time, you get to the point where you need a new challenge.
“We made an offer and Chelsea made their view plain, we respect that. But in the future we may revisit it.”
Privately, Chelsea officials are remaining calm in the face of Hughes's comments and insist they still expect Terry to stay, even though he could become the Premier League's top earning player with a £250,000-a-week deal at Eastlands.
There is also no suggestion that the 28-year-old will not join new boss Carlo Ancelotti and his fellow players on the four-game tour of America.
The Chelsea party is due to fly from Heathrow to Seattle tomorrow and Terry will be on the plane.
The west Londoners had hoped that their captain's future would be resolved by the time they departed for America but club bosses are now resigned to the issue casting something of a cloud over the tour, which also includes games in Pasadena and Baltimore before ending in Texas on 26 July.
Terry, who is said to be concerned at Chelsea's perceived lack of ambition in failing to sign high-profile players, spoke with club owner Roman
Abramovich last week but no further talks are believed to be planned.
Chelsea accept that the only way to definitively quash speculation over the defender's future is for him to issue a statement rejecting City's advances but, as yet, there have been no moves from his representatives.
City, meanwhile, also expect to seal a deal for Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor in the next 24 hours.
Reader views (24)
I wish Mancity well but they should respect John Terry. He is more than big Salary earner in Chelsea.
Jerry
- Jerry, Nigeria, 27/07/2009 17:27
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I wish Mancity well but they should respect John Terry. He is more than big Salary earner in Chelsea.
Jerry
- Jerry, Nigeria, 27/07/2009 17:09
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Well Paul ,What have Chelsea , Robhinio ,Tevez , Adeybayor , all got in common ? I Remember Chelsea tried for all 3 . Dont worry about little old City . Because you are such a massive club . Its great when the northern flat caps ,and whippet breaders , pull one ( oh no 3 ) over the MASSIVE London side Chelsea..
- Tevez Is Hansome Now :>), Stockport Manchester, 21/07/2009 15:45
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I can't stop laughing either Abebayor .show me the money, Bellamy empty room start fight springs to mind, Tevez I love City ( was United), Robinho late back from weekend in Brazil / strippers and your other 4 forwards all going for 2-3 places ..what a season to look forward for the stockport massive all that back page moaning. If JT goes for the cash we'll have the 40mill and report you lot anyway just to get you on the FA's radar..and us off it.
- Paul, London, 21/07/2009 11:09
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I cannot stop laughing . I have just read CHELSEA are to report Manchester City , for tapping players up . You must only be allowed to do that at Chelsea . Did they put a patent on tapping up , SWP , Ashly Cole , Carvaliho , Shevchenco . Your special one met Cole we are led to believe.Whats good for the goose is good for the gander as the saying goes . Chelsea scared of little old City . What is the world coming to , such a massive club like Chelsea . Ha ha now you know how it feels . Come on JT join a team with real fans .
- Tevez Is Hansome Now :>), Stockport Manchester, 19/07/2009 14:57
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I think you will find Mr Abramovich , started the slease. Ian from Cranbrook . City have a great tradition. fans that dont desert them ( Chelsea disserperd of the radar in div 2 ). You did very well to buy the title and cups . All top teams spend millions . City are playing catch up ,and are doing it very quickly . So dream on Ian get your rupert the bear pjs on its time for your bed . See you next season
- T, Stockport Manchester, 17/07/2009 16:57
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Terry's only "new challenge" at Man City would be to pick up his wallet due to it's weight. This is about $ - lets be clear - & it's risible to suggest Terry may feel Chelsea lack ambition (how much how Abramovich spent) or stability (expect very little of that at Man City over the coming period - or Mark Hughes after next summer).
- Keith, Surrey, 15/07/2009 23:22
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John Entwistle
I obviously have a higher intellect than you. I am not a 13 year old bufoon and would not stoop to the low level you have trying in a rather puerile way to trade personal insults. The facts speak for themselves, Manchester City are sleaze bags as are you
- Ian, Cranbrook, Kent, 15/07/2009 22:22
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Ha ha ha, you've gotta laugh, 'Mr Chelsea' is about to become Mr Citeh; so much for loyalty, and it seems that we have, at last, found the seam of the oligarch's pocket who now wont pony up £250k to his skipper.
I wouldn't be surprised to hear that the club is put up for sale soon, he clearly cares more about art and massive yachts than his 'beloved' Blues. Where's the new stadium they were talking about for years, where was it Earls Court?!!!!!!!!!! Keep dreaming.
- Undercover Elephant, Dole Farm, Crays Hill, Essex, 15/07/2009 22:22
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According to Mark Hughes, JT would "reignite" his career by going to City.
By reignite, he presumably means moving from the third best club in the land to the tenth, giving up, for a year, all European football and without the guarantee of any in the following season either.
Also if, as Hughes says, it's not about money, why don't City offer him the same as he's getting at Chelsea?
- Mike, Windsor, Uk, 15/07/2009 22:22
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What is Terry really worth on the open market without benefactor clubs like Citeh bidding him up? I reckon top end price £18m taking in to account his age and fitness.
How much do you think a shrewd boss like Wenger would pay for him - at most £12m!
- Undercover Elephant, Dole Farm, Crays Hill, Essex, 15/07/2009 22:22
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It will be a sad Day for Football if John Terry goes to Man City as he will be going only for the money. Terry should follow the line of Steve Gerrard when the opportunity came for Gerrard to join Chelsea for what was then a offer that could not be refused he eventually decided to stay at Liverpool.
Some things in Life mean far more than another inflated payrise as he is on a large salary already.
Stay at Chelsea JT and restore some values to the game.
- Anto, Lancs UK, 15/07/2009 22:22
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Citys pursuit of JT takes me back to a certain clubs pursuit of Shaun Wright-Phillips a few years ago. What goes around comes around....
- Stephen, Dronfield, 15/07/2009 22:22
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Chelsea are clearly getting their own back, as they say. They started this overbidding for players when Abramovich showed us. I find it humourus how the Chelsea fans are suddenly insulted because their wallet is not so big any more. We all know Terry isn't worth the money. Either way, though, he is due for a pay rise.
- Kb, London, 15/07/2009 22:22
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This deafening "wall of silence" from John Terry is abolutely unforgiveable behaviour and will not be forgiven by the fans - whatever happens. His scornful, disrespectful attitude has undermined the arrival of the new Manager (a top class appointment) and it is a pre-meditated, selfish, ego-driven disruption to pre-season.
TOO much (player) power corrupts - he should be stripped of the captaincy.
- Charlie, Nr. Crackpot, North Yorkshire, 15/07/2009 22:22
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Anto, Lancs.You obviously don't know the real reason why Gerrard didn't got to Chelsea. He tried twice, but was 'persuaded', by the local heavies not to go. Good luck to him, he values his family's safety. But, he wanted to go, make no mistake about that. Twice.
- Ted, London, 15/07/2009 22:22
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John
I think you will find that Chelsea had a very good team when Abramovich arrived. His money served to bolster a team that already had the capability to challenge for honours.
Man City are, as people say, trying to buy a team tp replace what was obviously not up to scratch. Whether they will be able to make it gel is another matter - I doubt it.
- Barry Chapman, Welwyn England, 15/07/2009 22:22
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I give up on football,I feel no connection with the current generation of "working class heroes".
I am looking forward to the day when they all go bankrupt and we can start again on Hackney Marshes.
- Jimfred, London UK, 15/07/2009 22:22
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Chelsea were reported to the FA for tapping up when we signed Ashley Cole. Given the remarks by Mark Hughes today about Terry perhaps needing a new challenge, the club should report Man City. And then let's see if there's one rule for Chelsea and another rule for other clubs.
- Blue Baby, London, 15/07/2009 22:22
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Mark Hughes has now fully absorbed the trading standards of the Middle East. Man City's continued pursuit of John Terry, has now become open tapping-up - a practice which I thought was illegal. The continual bombardment of offers of fantastic riches to be had with him in Manchester is similar to what tourists are pestered with when they go round the bazaars of North Africa.
Manchester City have no tradition. This is the second time in as many years that they have tried to buy a ready made team, not caring one jot if they, like Real Madrid are destabilising European football. It is time that both the FA, EUEFA and the Permiership warned those two clubs and Mark Huges that their conduct is unacceptable. Integrity and Manchester City do not exist. It should be Manchester Sleaze City. Like our politicians they have no conception of moral conduct and principles
- Ian, Cranbrook, Kent, 15/07/2009 22:22
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As with any footballer, if there is more cash involved then they will leave. The biggest thing that makes me laugh is when fans actually think the players gives a stuff about the club or them when all they think about is the money....
- Dac - Ealing, London, 15/07/2009 22:22
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He is a top man for us and I'd hate to see him go but if he can't live on £130k a week and needs a new challange ( cash) or to be loved ( cash) then he needs to say. No point keeping a player who doesn't want to stay no matter who they are and before we sell Carvaiho.
- Paul, London, 15/07/2009 22:22
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"Manchester City have no tradition. This is the second time in as many years that they have tried to buy a ready made team" Ian, Cranbrook, Kent
If you are a Chelsea fan you are either a master of subtle irony, a buffoon of 13 years old.
- John Entwistle, Hertford, 15/07/2009 22:22
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WOULD LOVE TO SEE JT AT MAN CITY, BUT HONESTLY DON'T THINK HE WILL LEAVE CHELSEA.
- Darren, MANCHESTER, 15/07/2009 22:22
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