Ray Wilkins has stated that West Ham United's defence would be strengthened with the signing of John Terry.

Terry has recently announced that he will be ending his lifelong stay with Chelsea at the end of the season but the 36-year-old is not ready to hang up his boots as of yet and a host of Premier League clubs as well as teams in China and United States are interested in the veteran.

Ex-Chelsea coach Wilkins believes that Terry is still good enough to produce the goods in the English top flight and suggested that the struggling defence of West Ham could do worse than sign the outgoing Blues skipper this summer.

"It is the end of an era," Wilkins told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfas on talkSPORT.

"John has got legendary status at Chelsea and quite rightly so, he's been an absolute star there and it will be chewing him up inside that he hasn't been able to play.

"He absolutely adores Chelsea, he loves to play for Chelsea. He has this burning desire to play football and it'll be chewing him up that he hasn't been able to put his boots on and perform. He's a great guy and a great leader of men - there'll be loads of clubs queuing up for his signature.

"John is a big family man, so I would certainly say China is out. America might be an option, but I'd like to see John stay in the Premier League. I think he's still got so much to offer.

"No one has mentioned West Ham. They have been conceding goals left, right and centre and John being an East End boy, that might be a nice fit, but whether he'd go to another London club is another question.

"One thing's for sure, whoever gets him will be getting a proper footballer. I'm sure wherever John goes he will be a force within that side, there's no two ways about it."