John Terry says he is still "very hopeful" of signing a new contract at Chelsea despite admitting that there are currently no talks with the club on extending his current deal, which expires this summer.
In January, Terry told reporters that he expected to leave Stamford Bridge after being informed that Chelsea had declined to offer him a contract extension, though the Blues subsequently insisted that "channels of dialogue" are and will remain open with their captain over his future.
Speaking at the London Football Awards, where he accepted a special prize for his "Outstanding Contribution" to London football over 18 years as a professional at Chelsea, Terry reiterated that no new talks have taken place but insists he has not given up on the possibility of staying at Stamford Bridge next season.
"I am still very hopeful," the 35-year-old said. "I have been there 21 years and I will never give up until it finally happens, but who knows? I have still got a lot to give, whether that is here or somewhere else, for sure."
Chelsea have enjoyed a revival since interim manager Guus Hiddink succeeded Jose Mourinho in December, losing just one of 15 matches in all competitions and rising from 15th to 10th in the Premier League.
The reigning champions now sit just eight points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City and with Europa League qualification firmly within their sights.
"We're not thinking about that at the moment," Terry said when asked about the possibility of a top-four finish. "With everyone slipping up there are obviously possibilities. We were spoken about pretty early on in the season and written off, so it's nice what we're doing at the moment -- winning games and in the top half of the table for the first time in a long time.
"The boys have been great picking up results recently and with another three or four wins on the bounce, who knows where that can take us?"
Just as remarkable as Chelsea's disastrous Premier League title defence has been Leicester City's miraculous surge to the top of the table.
Claudio Ranieri's men sit three points clear with 10 matches left and visit Stamford Bridge on the final day of the season, and Terry said he would love to see their campaign given a fairytale ending.
"What Leicester are doing is incredible and we wish them well to push on," Terry, who played under Ranieri earlier in his career, added. "If it's not going to be us, it'll be great for it to be them, and it'll be great for football. People do get a bit tired of the same teams being up there and this season's thrown so much into the equation.
"People are really excited by what Leicester have done. It gives the smaller clubs a belief that a few signings and right decisions can help them see the rewards."