Chelsea enter negotiations to sign Gary Cahill from Bolton Wanderers

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<div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.22.4/20544?ns=guardian&pageName=Chelsea+enter+negotiations+to+sign+Gary+Cahill+from+Bolton+Wanderers%3AArticle%3A1680957&ch=Football&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Chelsea+%28Football%29%2CBolton+Wanderers+%28Football%29%2CTottenham+Hotspur+%28Football%29%2CTransfer+window+%28football%29%2CFootball%2CSport&c5=Premier+League&c6=Dominic+Fifield&c7=11-Dec-23&c8=1680957&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Football&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FFootball%2FChelsea" width="1" height="1" /></div><p class="standfirst">• Blues keen to forestall Tottenham's interest in centre-half<br />• Cahill would re-form England partnership with John Terry</p><p>Chelsea have opened formal talks with Bolton Wanderers aimed at deflecting long-standing interest from Tottenham Hotspur in Gary Cahill and at securing the England centre-half for around £7m when the transfer window opens.</p><p>Cahill will enter the final six months of his contract at the Reebok Stadium in the new year and Bolton are resigned to the fact that he will not agree new terms to remain at the club. That has left the Premier League strugglers seeking a fee for his services now in the hope that Owen Coyle will be able to sign a replacement in the January window, and Chelsea are confident the 26-year-old will resume at Stamford Bridge the central defensive partnership with John Terry that has proved effective for England recently.</p><p>André Villas-Boas confirmed this week that Chelsea were monitoring Cahill's contractual situation and, with the Brazil international Alex placed on the transfer list and sidelined, a centre-half has become a priority in the market. "Regarding Gary Cahill, there has been dialogue between ourselves and Chelsea," Coyle said. "He is a top player and is [still] fully focused on Bolton. That doesn't surprise me. I've said from day one I believe Gary Cahill can play for anybody, I think he has those qualities.</p><p>"There is serious interest in Gary, but I've got to say we have two huge games before 1 January [against Newcastle and Wolverhampton Wanderers], before anything could happen. More than his ability, he's an outstanding man, and because of the lad he is his focus will be doing the best for his team-mates, who he's stood shoulder to shoulder with for years here, and trying to help them get points in these two games. Then whatever January brings, so be it. There's nothing signed and sealed at the moment but it's fair to say there has been dialogue [with Chelsea]. I've got to be up front and tell you, as I always do, and that's the situation."</p><p>Tottenham were close to securing Cahill on transfer deadline day in August but could not agree a fee, a failure that scuppered Sébastien Bassong's proposed move to Queens Park Rangers. Arsenal were also linked heavily with the former Aston Villa defender, though Arsène Wenger confirmed on Friday that he had adequate cover in central defence and is not looking to strengthen in that&nbsp;area.</p><div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/chelsea">Chelsea</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/boltonwanderers">Bolton Wanderers</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/tottenham-hotspur">Tottenham Hotspur</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/transfer-window">Transfer window</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/dominicfifield">Dominic Fifield</a></div><br/><div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div><p style="clear:both" />
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