LONDON - Chelsea want inspirational captain John Terry to stay at the club "forever", according to new Blues manager Carlo Ancelotti.

LONDON - Chelsea want inspirational captain John Terry to stay at the club "forever", according to new Blues manager Carlo Ancelotti.

England skipper Terry has been linked with a mega-money move to cash-rich Premier League rivals Manchester City.

But while City aspire to be one of England's leading clubs, Chelsea already are and Ancelotti, the former AC Milan boss, said he wanted centre-half Terry - who has spent all his senior career with the Blues - to stay in west London.

"John Terry is a symbol of this team," Ancelotti said.

"He will be captain next season. He said he wants to stay forever and we want to keep him forever," the Italian said.

"Now there is a question of Man City, but for Terry (there is) no price. Terry will be at Chelsea forever.

"I like to have a captain like Terry, he is very close to (Paolo) Maldini for professionalism, for quality and he will be the best captain for Chelsea."

But asked if Chelsea, who have reportedly turned down an initial bid from City, would offer Terry a new, improved contract, Ancelotti added: "It's not my problem."

Ancelotti was less emphatic about whether Deco and Ricardo Carvalho would stay at Stamford Bridge after they were both linked with moves to Inter Milan.

Meanwhile the Blues coach said the English giants had signed Russian international winger Yuri Zhirkov from CSKA Moscow and confirmed the arrival of former Manchester City forward Daniel Sturridge at Stamford Bridge. - AFP