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Report: John Terry under consideration for Middlesbrough job

Alex Livesey / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Aston Villa assistant manager John Terry is reportedly pondering his next coaching move, despite working on preparations for Monday's Championship playoff final.

The Chelsea legend has spoken to Middlesbrough this week about the managerial vacancy on Teesside, according to The Guardian's Louise Taylor. He's expected to compete with local Jonathan Woodgate, who serves as the first-team coach at Boro, and former Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic for the job.

Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson is also understood to be considering Hibernian handler Paul Heckingbottom as Tony Pulis' successor. Ajax reserve team coach Michael Reiziger has been linked to the opening, too, and Argentinian striker Gabriel Batistuta told ESPN earlier this week he would "analyze" the position if he received an offer.

Pulis and Boro parted ways at the end of the 2018-19 regular Championship season after the club failed to finish in the playoff places. Gibson has since initiated a significant overhaul, with some backroom staff following Pulis out of Riverside.

Terry's longtime Chelsea teammate, Frank Lampard, is also rumored to be considering his next management gig. Lampard will be in the opposite dugout in his role as Derby County manager during Monday's playoff final at Wembley. He's repeatedly been connected with Chelsea in the event Maurizio Sarri leaves following Wednesday's Europa League showdown against Arsenal.

"It's been a bit of an obvious link all season," Lampard said, as BBC Sport reported. "It's maybe because of where we're at - in the final - and we're being talked about and I get linked because of my 13 years at the club.

"But in terms of how I'm seeing it, I don't want to think about it, I don't want to talk about it. I want to talk about Monday."

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