Jose Mourinho GUARANTEES John Terry new Chelsea contract (but Petr Cech free to leave)

JOSE MOURINHO has guaranteed that John Terry will be a Chelsea player next season.

John terryREUTERS

Jose Mourinho insists John Terry will get a new contract at Chelsea

But the Chelsea manager has said that he will not stand in goalkeeper Petr Cech's way if he decides to leave the club at the end of this campaign.

Terry, 34, captained Chelsea to victory in the Capital One Cup final at Wembley on Sunday as they beat Tottenham 2-0, but will be out of contract at the end of this season.

Terry signed a new one year deal last summer, and talks have not yet begun on a new deal – but Mourinho today pledged that it is close.

Terry REUTERS

Terry captained Chelsea to Capital One Cup success on Sunday

The Chelsea manager, whose side face West Ham tomorrow night (7.45pm) bidding to extend their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League, said: "It will be before the end of the season for sure.

"What I can guarantee is that John will be a Chelsea player next season. I can guarantee that. It's because I know what my board tell me and what the player tells me. There is no doubt that he is going to get his contract. I think terms are agreed but it is not yet signed.

"Every one of these big guys is difficult to replace, but right now we still have the player and he is still an important player. You do start thinking: 'What next?' Sometimes you have the solution just around the corner. Sometimes you don't have it and you have to look outside. But this is a process that we can take our time over, because John is proving again this season that he's a player for years."

West Ham v Chelsea - Premier League Preview

But Cech has been displaced by brilliant young Belgian Thibaut Courtois as the first choice goalkeeper this season – even though the 32-year-old was picked for the side at Wembley – and has said that he might have to consider his future if he does not get enough games.

Clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool, Roma, Paris St Germain and Monaco are all monitoring his situation, but Mourinho today seemed to be resigned to the Stamford Bridge legend leaving.

He said: "I don't think Petr is a guy to be persuaded. He doesn't let anyone persuade him.

Petr Cech Player Profile

"He will make his decision and, when he makes it, he's very mature about making what he feels is the best decision for him and his future.

"I will just wait, wishing that his decision is to stay. That's my desire. I would like him very, very much to stay.

"But I don't waste my time trying to persuade him, because it's his decision. If he tells me he wants to leave I will tell him my opinion, that he is one of the three best goalkeepers in the world - so huge money."

Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?