Chelsea legend John Terry is wanted by local rivals Aston Villa and Birmingham City.

In midweek, Harry Redknapp had been leading the race for the out-of-contract 36-year-old, says the Mirror.

But now Steve Bruce has upped the ante and Villa have slapped more money on the table.

The ball is now in Birmingham's court with neither owner wanting to lose face and no decision is now expected until the middle of next week at the earliest as the cat and mouse game is set to continue – with Terry the ultimate winner.