Frank Lampard is wasting no time as Derby manager, as it has been reported that he is heavily interested in bringing Aston Villa player John Terry to Pride Park with the defender’s contract expiring at the end of the month, according to the Mirror.
Terry, 37, played at the heart of Steve Bruce’s back four last season, and would have possibly stayed at Villa Park should they have achieved promotion; however, the Daily Mail’s live transfer blog [13:56] has indicated that Lampard is keen on signing the free agent from his Championship rivals, should he lose Curtis Davies.
Terry has a long-standing relationship with the Derby manager, having played with him for over a decade a Chelsea, but due to Villa’s financial issues they were unable to re-sign the former England captain.
The senior player’s name is likely to be the first on a long list of players leaving Villa Park this Summer, due to severe financial difficulties brought to light on Tuesday afternoon.
OPINION
Although John Terry only signed a one-year-contract when he signed for the Villains last Summer, it was heavily expected that he would stay with the club should they have achieved promotion. The 37-year-old’s play was sensational throughout the season, leading Steve Bruce’s men to the play-off final, only to lose at the hands of Fulham. Terry was the Championship’s highest earner last season, taking a whopping £70,000 per week from the Birmingham based club, which in turn could have had an effect on the current financial situation at Villa Park. It is not surprising that Lampard wants the former England international, as his consistent and enforcing style of play and leadership would be invaluable to an inexperienced manager at a team that has Premier League aspirations. Derby fans only have to look as far as the Villa fans, who held John Terry in high regard after just one season of play.