BRIDGE TOO FAR ... John Terry could be up for
a move to Manchester City
Terry, 28, has been blown away by City's offer, which
is worth a mind-blowing £15.6million-a-year. But it is a measure of
how boss Mark Hughes views the centre-back as crucial to City's
development.
Terry would become easily the world's highest-paid
player. His salary would dwarf even that of the footballer closest
to him - Cristiano Ronaldo, on £255,000-a- week at Real
Madrid.
Hughes reckons Terry is the key to City bursting into
the Premier League's top four and becoming one of Europe's leading
clubs. The Welshman is convinced he can get a good five years out
of the centre-back, despite some of the injury problems he has
suffered in the last couple of seasons, and has long had him on his
radar.
City failed with a move for Terry last season and,
though the latest £30m offer has been firmly rejected by Chelsea,
SunSport understands the pursuit is far from over.
In fact, the Londoners are bracing themselves for
another bid in the region of £40m. Sources close to Terry say the
player is beginning to wonder whether Chelsea really want him as
much as they claim and admit he has been impressed by the faith
Hughes has in him.
SunSport can reveal Terry has had no contact with
incoming manager Carlo Ancelotti since the Italian got the job and
is worried that his influence at Stamford Bridge could be on the
wane.
Terry has become more than just the skipper at Chelsea.
He was almost on the board and was the link-man between the players
and the hierarchy. Ancelotti may have different ideas about how the
club should operate. Yet with Hughes, Terry knows he will be the
main man whichever stars arrive.
Terry currently earns around £150,000-a-week with the
Blues, so would be doubling his wages. City are also prepared to
pay Samuel Eto'o £250,000-a-week to secure his services from
Barcelona. Clearly money is no object to City's Arab
owners.
Chelsea suspect Terry has been tapped up and City
sources admit the club would not have made a bid without doing its
homework. In other words, they have already found out whether he
would be interested in the move before making their official
approach.
SunSport was told: "This one could run for a while.
John is really interested in what City have to say. It is not
impossible he could leave."
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