Chelsea yet to enter contract discussions with Terry
Chelsea denied on Tuesday that contract talks had begun with John Terry, contrary to reports from The Times' Matt Hughes that the club had told its captain that there would be no extension beyond his current agreement up to the summer of 2017.
Terry, who aside from a short loan term with Nottingham Forest has only represented the Blues since his 1998 debut, was the subject of rumours regarding his future last term, but eventually signed a fresh one-year deal just days after the conclusion of the 2015-16 season.
Now aged 36 and six-and-a-half months short of his contract's expiration, the whispers and discussions have resumed.
"It's a little early in the season for stories like this to come out," Chelsea head of communications Steve Atkins told Sky Sports' Lyall Thomas. "It is the kind of discussion that we have with players in the last year of their contract, but much later in the season.
"That discussion has not taken place between John and the club. It's something that will be discussed later in the season, not for now."
This time around, Terry's case to scribble on some paperwork is significantly weaker. Manager Antonio Conte's eventual usage of a back three - predominantly occupied by Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz, and Gary Cahill - that's largely unfamiliar to Terry has occurred in a campaign where the skipper's started only four of Chelsea's 15 league outings due to ankle and muscle problems.
And not only would the veteran leader find himself below the pecking order of Conte's deepest-lying outfield trio, but perhaps also behind 22-year-old Kurt Zouma - who's nearing fitness after rupturing a cruciate ligament last February - and Branislav Ivanovic. Academy prospect Ola Aina, 20, is additionally pushing for senior consideration.
Instead, a position in Conte's coaching team would appear an option, with the Italian recently revealing that a crocked Terry was still travelling home and away with the squad.
"John is our captain and I think he is done a great job when he has played," said Conte. "Now he is not playing but he is helping me a lot in the changing room to send the right message to the players.
"He is injured but he is coming with us to every game, home and away, to transfer the right message. This is fantastic."
The ex-Juventus handler added: "John loves this club. I know John very well in this period. I am pleased a lot to know the man, not only the player, and I think he is a really important player for us, if he plays or if he doesn't play."