Chelsea: No Terry talks

Chelsea have denied reports that John Terry will not be offered a new contract.

It has been widely reported that Terry has been told that he will not be offered a new contract when his existing deal expires at the end of the season but would be offered a new role to stay with the club.

He faced a similar situation last season but he went on to sign a new deal in the summer following Antonio Conte's appointment as manager and the club's head of communications Steve Atkins insists a decision will not be made until later in the year.

"It's a little early in the season for stories like this to come out. It is the kind of discussion that we have with players in the last year of their contract, but much later in the season," he told reporters ahead of Wednesday' Premier League game with Sunderland.

"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."

Terry has not started in the Premier League for Chelsea since September due to an ankle injury but Conte has praised the way in which he has travelled to every home and away game to offer his support to the team.

"John is our captain and I think he is done a great job when he has played. Now he is not playing but he is helping me a lot in the changing room to send the right message to the players," the manager told his pre-match press conference.

"He is injured but he is coming with us to every game, home and away, to transfer the right message. This is fantastic.

"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.

"It's important for me to send the right message in the changing room, and send the right spirit of this club. I hope to have him available to play, but it's also important to have him in this role."