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John Terry could be set for a shock return to Aston Villa.

Terry, 37, left Villa at the end of last season following their Championship play-off final defeat.

He has remained tight-lipped about his future but Terry is ready to answer the SOS from Villa boss Steve Bruce.

Terry was due to be offered a one-year deal if he got them back up but they missed out at Wembley and were then engulfed in a financial crisis which took the club to the brink of administration.

But new mega-rich owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens came to the rescue and are believed to have given the green light to bankroll a deal to bring Terry back.

(Image: AFP) (Image: Action Images via Reuters)

His £60,000-a-week wages made such a move impossible as Villa club teetered on the brink of financial collapse.

The influential central defender has spent the summer weighing up all sorts of options including big-money offers from China and America’s MLS.

He has also been exploring opportunities to move into broadcasting after successful stints on TV.

(Image: Getty)

Bruce has found himself chronically short in defence after failed bids for Aberdeen’s Scott McKenna.

It was a major coup when he landed him first time around after they met up on the golf course in Portugal with Terry a free agent after 22 years at Chelsea.

He played 36 times for Villa last season and supporters have been in a frenzy since one fan claimed on social media that Terry himself had answered ‘yes’ to his Instagram poll asking whether the player should return to Villa Park.

And while excited fans are happy to believe that was more than just a bit of mischief, sources close to the club last night suggested that moves to get Terry back on board are already in hand.