John Terry set to join Spartak Moscow

Former England and Chelsea captain Terry is a free agent after leaving Aston Villa during the summer, but has apparently been offered a tax-free £3m to extend his career in Russia.

The 37-year-old will have a medical in Rome's Villa Stuart Clinic to speed up the move. He will replace Spartak's French defender Samuel Gigot, who is out for the season with a cruciate ligament injury.

Terry was due to participate in a charity match at Celtic Park involving James Milner and Stiliyan Petrov on Saturday afternoon, but posted an apology on Instagram for failing to make it.

"I am in the best condition I have been in for the last eight to 10 years of my career," said Terry in an interview with the Daily Mail.

"I've had a brilliant summer, the first time in 20 years I have been able to get away like that with my family during the school holidays. I was away so much last year because I was fully committed to giving everything to Aston Villa, but now I am fully recharged."

Terry won 78 caps for England and helped Chelsea land the Champions League, the Europa League, five Premier League titles, five FA Cups and three League Cups during 19 years at Stamford Bridge.