Top 3 candidates to succeed John Terry as Chelsea captain

Gary Cahill

The current frontrunner, having assumed the armband on the pitch in Terry’s absence under Conte. On paper, Cahill is cut from the same cloth as Terry and would be the ‘like-for-like’ choice.

Playing in the same position, with a wealth of experience for both Chelsea and England, Cahill has been alongside Terry since his move from Bolton Wanderers to Chelsea back in 2012. He’s won it all at Chelsea, literally, and has arguably already assumed Terry’s role on the pitch this year.

This CV already seems flawless, but Blues fans would suggest otherwise. Cahill would be many fans’ first player in the firing line to be replaced in the starting XI by a summer arrival.

This may be harsh, Cahill was just voted in the PFA Team of the Year, but Chelsea supporters see cracks in his game and still see him as a stop-gap in their defensive development.

Regardless, Cahill is the clear favourite and, especially off the pitch, would most likely provide the smoothest transition from the old to the new.