Birmingham manager urges board to splash out on England legend

Birmingham City manager Harry Redknapp will tell the board to go the extra mile to secure the services of Chelsea defender John Terry this summer, reports The London Evening Standard.

Terry will be a free agent when his Chelsea contract expires at the end of this month and his future remains unclear after revealing he could still call time on his career this summer.

The 35-year-old is thought to have admirers from other Premier League clubs but Redknapp is desperate to sign the former England captain and hopes Birmingham will match his £100,000-a-week wage demands.

Bournemouth, who can offer Terry top-flight football, are thought to favourites for his signature but Aston Villa’s surprise interest has given Redknapp hope that he can convince the Chelsea captain to drop down to the Championship.

Birmingham have already pulled of a coup by signing David Stockdale from newly promoted Premier League outfit Brighton, and Redknapp, who signed a one-year deal to continue as manager of the Blues earlier this summer, wants to make a second splash in the transfer window.

Redknapp hopes the absence of any transfer fee will help him convince the Birmingham board, while he also wants to secure Terry a coaching role with a view to becoming manager in the future.

Terry only made nine appearances in Chelsea’s league winning campaign last season but did score in his penultimate appearance for the club to ensure he has now netted for 17 successive Premier League seasons.

For more stats on John Terry, click here to visit his WhoScored player page