Terry scare delays Mikel's new deal at Chelsea
ENGLISH Premiership side, Chelsea, has shelved talks on the new contract for Super Eagles' midfielder John Obi, as it fights to stop its captain, John Terry, from moving to Manchester City.

There have been talks of a new £70,000 a week contract for the Lyn Oslo former star, which would put him among the highest earners at Stamford Bridge. But following Manchester City's determination to get the England captain, Terry, the Blues' officials have shelved other engagements to ensure they retain their captain.

Before now, Chelsea was eager to commit Mikel to a long-term contract following overtures by Inter Milan's Jose Mourinho, who gave the Nigerian star his break in English football. Mikel's current deal is due to expire next year, and the officials at Chelsea feel they still have time to tie the star down. But that would now come after Terry's situation is sorted out.

According to The Sun of London, Terry's situation became worrisome to the London club's bosses following his reluctance to assure the club that his future lies in London. The paper reports that Terry is demanding showdown talks with Chelsea's owner, Roman Abramovich, over his future. The Blues skipper is furious that nobody at the club has spoken to him since Manchester City tabled a £30 million bid last week and cannot understand why he has been left in the dark.

Defender Terry, 28, feels insulted by the Stamford Bridge silence. According to an insider, "John feels betrayed and even unwanted. It's unbelievable - even though he's the club captain and one of the Blues' most important players, senior management at the club haven't once tried to talk to him.

"John wants to know what's going on and, more importantly, whether Chelsea actually want to keep him or cash in while they have a chance."

Even though Terry is widely regarded as a key player, he takes home £20,000 a week less than his England teammate, Frank Lampard, who is on £151,000 a week. Big-spending City is prepared to give the England skipper the wages he believes he deserves and is desperate to make him the bedrock of its new-look side.

Terry has played 272 games for Chelsea and scored 17 goals in 11 senior years at the club. He joined Chelsea aged just 14 and led the club to its first league title for 50 years in his first year as captain in 2004-5. Both chief executive Peter Kenyon and new boss Carlo Ancelotti have said that Terry was not for sale - but the skipper's future is still in the balance.

In a separate development, Ancelloti has revealed that a "creative player" is high on his wish-list of potential squad reinforcements and after two days of pre-season training, the highly-experienced Italian believes there is more than one way to bring about attractive, winning football, with the likes of Mikel in the middle, but will certainly not rule out another new signing as a preferred option.