Former Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo has claimed the club may struggle to find a player like John Terry ever again.
Terry will leave the Blues at the end of June when his current deal expires, ending a 22-year association with the club.
The 36-year-old centre-back only played 14 league and cup games last term, as he was used sparingly by Chelsea manager Antonio Conte.
However, Di Matteo believes that his presence off the pitch and in the dressing room will be difficult to replace.
“Terry has been there 20 years. He was a leader in the dressing room, he was the reference point for many players, especially many new players,” he told beIN Sports.
“He represented the true feelings of Chelsea. It’s going to take a bit of time for somebody to step in and take that kind of role.
“I’m not sure if ever somebody will be able to do so, but certainly taking on the captaincy role and being that important for the team.”
The veteran centre-back has been linked with a switch to a number of clubs, and in the latest development, the Mirror claims that Aston Villa have made a move to counter Birmingham City’s offer.
Meanwhile, the Birmingham Mail have reported in the past that West Brom were ready to rival Villa in the race for Terry’s services.
The 36-year-old broke into the senior squad at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2000 and he went on to make 690 appearances across all competitions for the club, which yielded 65 goals.
He was capped by England on 78 occasions, and he represented his country in two World Cups and two European Championships.