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Aston Villa acknowledge patience will be key in John Terry pursuit

Villa will remain patient in their pursuit of John Terry as the former England captain considers a formal contract offer.

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The club has put forward a lucrative deal which would see the 36-year-old earn around £60,000-a-week and receive a significant bonus should Villa win promotion.

But though Villa are understood to have taken a significant step forward in recent days, Terry is thought to be in no rush to make a decision and club bosses acknowledge it could be up to a fortnight before finding out if they have successfully persuaded him to drop into the second tier.

A host of other clubs from the Premier League, China and the MLS are monitoring the situation along with Villa’s city rivals Blues and Terry is expected to receive several more concrete offers in the coming days, some of which may well top the financial package on offer at Villa Park.

The centre-back, who will become a free agent when his contract expires at the end of the month, is determined to keep on playing and the challenge of helping Villa escape the Championship next term is thought to be one which carries some appeal.

Terry is currently training at Chelsea’s training ground, after returning to the UK earlier this week from a summer break in Portugal, where he spent time playing golf with Villa boss Steve Bruce.