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John Terry could be major factor in Aston Villa’s reported pursuit of Daniel Sturridge
Aston Villa are reportedly interested in a move to sign Daniel Sturridge on a free transfer this summer, which would see him reunite with John Terry.
, a potential free agent swap to boyhood club Aston Villa is growing in appeal to Sturridge.
The England international is available for nothing after leaving Liverpool at the end of his contract this summer.
Romanticism has been put down as one of the reasons behind Sturridge’s potential return to Aston Villa.
But it is also important to remember that he is a former team-mate of Aston Villa’s assistant manager. Sturridge was breaking into the Chelsea team back in 2009 whilst Terry was still captain at Stamford Bridge.
At times it was tough for Sturridge to wait on the sidelines at Chelsea. The likes of Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka, and Fernando Torres proved a major barrier.
But at the start of the 2011-12 season, Terry told how he felt Sturridge’s form on loan at Bolton Wanderers and in pre-season had him first on the team-sheet.
“Studge [Sturridge] especially. He has been brilliant all pre-season.
“He went away last season on loan and gained from the experience of playing week in, week out. He’s grown into how good he believes he can be and everyone is seeing that now.
“It is just unfortunate he has his three-game ban, otherwise I am sure he would have been the first name down on the team sheet because he has been brilliant so far.”
The two would also go on to represent England together and Sturridge was also a staunch defender of his captain.
When Terry came under criticism in 2011 for a run of bad form, the 26-cap striker was quick to
“The disrespect I’ve seen towards the likes of JT and others is ridiculous. When times get hard, these are the sort of players who step up to the plate.
“Ashley Cole, JT, Lamps, Didier – these are the players which keep the team going. They are the heart of the team.”
So there is clearly a positive relationship that Aston Villa can build on here if Sturridge is a target. Terry might be the key to getting any deal over the line.