Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has blasted Chelsea over their treatment of John Terry.
The 35-year-old defender, capped 78 times by England, was informed that the club would not be offering him a third 12-month extension at a meeting before the 1-0 away win over Arsenal last month.
Souness, in his role as a pundit for Sky Sports' coverage of Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Sunday, said: "I cannot believe that John Terry will not be here next year. I can't think of one reason why you wouldn't want him here.
"It's turned February, he's playing well, every bit as well as any other defender and maybe anyone on his team. It's not been a great season (for Chelsea), but that's not because of John Terry.
"I have to believe, as a football person, if it's solely down to football, John has to be here.
'Look at him again today (against Manchester United). Nothing wrong, solid. He's a leader and he wants to be here; it's not as if he wants to go somewhere else."