Chelsea's latest manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has stated that there is "no price" for John Terry and that the centre-half will remain captain of the club. Manchester City have been repeatedly linked with a move for the player, with some reports claiming that they would double his wages.
"I think that Terry is a symbol of the team," he said. "Naturally he will be the captain next time; he says he wants to be at Chelsea next season and we want to keep him forever. There is no price – he will be captain of Chelsea forever.
"There is no problem. For him, for us, the story continues for Chelsea. For captain I would like to have Terry. He is very close to [Paolo] Maldini in professionalism and I would like to keep him as captain."
Maldini lifted the European Cup twice as Milan's captain during Ancelotti's time as manager at San Siro and is widely regarded as one of the finest defenders of his generation.
Ancelotti, who was speaking in halting English after a crash-course in the language, added that he does not expect many changes in the club's playing staff, but he did announce the arrival of the Russian left-winger Yuri Zhirkov and confirmed that Manchester City's Daniel Sturridge and Middlesbrough's Ross Turnbull had joined the club. He said he does not expect the team to change much as they are a great side already.
"I think that Zhirkov, Sturridge and Turnbull will be Chelsea players now. I know a lot of Zhirkov, not so much Sturridge and Turnbull. But I am looking forward to working with them," he said.
When asked if he would be making bids for Milan's forward Pato or the Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo, Ancelotti remained uncommitted. "I don't want to talk about other players," he said. "If there is a good situation for us we can try and improve the team. I don't want to talk about them because they are Milan players.
"I don't think [there will be many changes] because Chelsea are a great team now. If you can improve this it would be better for me and the club."
It remains to be seen whether Deco and Ricardo Carvalho are part of Ancelotti's plans. The Portugal internationals have been linked with Inter, but the Italian club appear to have cooled their interest in the pair.
Ancelotti, who was in good humour throughout, brushed off any suggestions that he is concerned about being Chelsea's fifth manager in five years and said he just wants to get on with the job. "I am anxious to start because I like my work. I like to start now a new experience. I've found a very good organisation and young people to work with me."