Chelsea captain John Terry has made it known he wants the veteran striker Didier Drogba to remain at Stamford Bridge next season. His future as of yet remains unclear as he is still waiting on a contract offer from the club.

Drogba started on Sunday as Chelsea secured the Barclays Premier League title with a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace but his first-team opportunities have been limited this season.

Jose Mourinho’s side needed three points to complete the triumph that has become an inevitability in recent weeks as they moved out of sight of their rivals to reclaim the crown from Manchester City, who are 13 points adrift despite their win at Tottenham. Victory was secured by Eden Hazard’s goal on the stroke of half-time, the Belgian heading past Julian Speroni after the Palace goalkeeper had saved the PFA Player of the Year’s penalty.

The 37-year-old is keen to carrying on playing but with no new deal on the table yet he may have to leave Chelsea for a second time to do so. Terry though is still hoping Drogba stays, saying: ‘He’s been great because he’s had to be patient. Ideally he would have liked a bit more game-time.

‘But Diego (Costa) hit the ground running, scoring a lot of goals. But Didier’s experience and the way he speaks before the games, after defeats when you’re down and you need an old head to help. At times we’ve been worried after defeats and he’s said that it happens and we’ll bounce back and be all right. When you hear that from someone like him, everyone takes it on board.

‘Let’s hope he’s in the camp next season. He’s got a massive part to play on and off the field. He’s shown that on the field but off the field he really has got a massive part to play.’