John Terry could sign a contract that sees him stay on at Aston Villa but miss any upcoming Chelsea matches next season.
A clause in Terry's contract sees that if Aston Villa are promoted back to the Premier League, he has the option to extend his £80,000 a week contract for another year, but it also means that he isn't required to face-off against his former side.
He would also earn a £2 million bonus from his contract if Villa manage to beat Fulham in the play-off final at Wembley this Saturday.
The former Blues captain departed Stamford Bridge after 19 years. Whilst there, he helped Chelsea win five Premier League titles, five F.A Cups, three League Cups, a Europa League and a Champions League, a tremendous record.
Terry has an emotional connection to Chelsea. It's why he decided to join a side in the Championship last summer, to avoid any encounter with his beloved side.
Villa, meanwhile, are looking to re-enter the Premier League after a two-season spell in the second tier. Their manager, Steve Bruce, says he's looking forward to Saturday's encounter with the west Londoners, and remains hopeful that his veteran centre-back, Terry, does trigger the clause in his contract that has him remaining at Villa Park for another year at least:
"I genuinely hope he [Terry] triggers it. All those phone calls to him last summer, he hasn't been disappointed with it. From the training ground, to the stadium, to the support, it has all the makings of a big club," Bruce said via The Telegraph.
"He has been one of the great defenders of our country. He is a great leader of men, which we don't produce many of any more.
"That's what we've brought him for, not just to win a game on a Saturday but his overall contribution. He's never let us down."
Despite the elderly age of 38, Terry has become a key member of Villa's defence, starting in 32 games in the league, with the Birmingham side finishing a respectful fourth spot, earning a play-off place.
If Villa are promoted, how well do you think Terry do back at his old stomping grounds? Let us know in the comments section.
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