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Villas-Boas determined to snare Cahill

Comment: 0 November 9th, 2011 by: admin

CHELSEA boss Andre Villas-Boas has found the man he wants to bolster the Blues’ wobbly backline.

He is none other than Bolton Wanderers central defender Gary Cahill whom the Portuguese coach is hoping to sign in January.

And the destination for the England international appears to be towards Stamford Bridge as he will be out of contract next summer although he is set to leave the Reebok Stadium in the New Year.

The 25-year-old Cahill is not only targeted by Chelsea. He is also on the radar of both the Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal but none of them could forge a deal with Bolton who dangled a price tag of 15 million pounds for the former Aston Villa player.

Chelsea’s hope to snare Cahill looked bright with the depreciation of Cahill’s contract that would make him available on a reduced value of between 7 million and 8 million pounds.

The Blues have been troubled by the goals his team have conceded thus far while keeping only a couple of clean sheets in the Premier League.

Villas-Boas has prioritised Cahill due to his brilliant playmaking and his future inclusion could cushion the probable loss of Alex, a target of Italian side Juventus, and the uncertainty surrounding David Luiz.

The Portuguese manager is a good friend of Bolton boss Owen Coyle, their relationship dating back to their coaching course days in Scotland four years ago and this could help the former to finalise his determined bid for the Bolton player and beat other teams in the race to acquire him.

The Spurs are equally in need of a top-notch central defender, with manager Harry Redknapp hoping to find someone who could partner with Ledley King.

Aside from Cahill, Tottenham are also seeking the services of 20-year-old Barcelona player Marc Bartra, whose contract with the Catalan outfit is nearing expiration.

Cahill is set to earn his seventh cap this weekend when England battle Spain in a friendly at Wembley.

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