Gary Cahill

[Hutch]

According to several reports today, the club have "sounded out Bolton to register an interest" in Cahill and so for this reason I think it's time to start a new topic.. Does that mean we'll actually put an offer in come January? Your guess is as good as mine. If we do I think we're likely to face competition. The Mail mentions that Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool and "potentially" Man U are also interested. I can't find a link to the Mail article, so here's one from the Mirror:

Chelsea join chase for Bolton's Cahill

Chelsea have sounded out Bolton to register an interest in their star defender Gary Cahill.

The centre-back, 24, has enhanced his reputation this season by helping Owen Coyle's side to sixth in the Premier League.

And Coyle is aware that the champions are monitoring the former Aston Villa trainee, who's also been linked with Liverpool , closely.

Chelsea have struggled badly at the back without their injured captain John Terry. His absence has coincided with the Stamford Bridge club losing top spot.

Chelsea have not won in three league games and were forced to play a makeshift centre-back pairing of Paulo Ferreira and Branislav Ivanovic against Sunderland.

Now they are eyeing £15million-rated Cahill, capped once by England, to possibly help shore up their defence in January.

If Bolton lose Cahill, they want Villa defender Curtis Davies, currently on loan at Leicester, as a cut-price replacement.

LINK

[PloKoon13]

they want Villa defender Curtis Davies

We'd be better off sticking with Bruma...

[Hutch]

they want Villa defender Curtis Davies

We'd be better off sticking with Bruma...

Not sure if you've read that wrong, the "they" referred to is Bolton. Meanwhile links to Cahill are now everywhere. Apparently his contract includes a £17 million release clause.

[Randy36]

We'd be better off sticking with Bruma...

I agree. Gary Cahill, in my opinion, is not the answer, especially if we are looking for a long-term replacement for Carvalho. I believe Cahill is overrated.

I'm more impressed with the 25 year old Daniel Agger of Liverpool. In my opinion, he has the potential to become a world class centre back. I would prefer him to Cahill.

But we should not give up on Bruma. He deserves the opportunity to prove his worth.

[TheWestwayWonder]

I dont know about paying 17 million (maybe 15 but i know thats hair splitting) but I would love it. I can see Cahill being an anchor at the heart of a top Premiership team

This assumes JT faces more injures or Alex faces a long layoff when he finally has his procedure, Paulo leaves in the summer, and Ivan/Bosingwa become the defending attacking tandem at RB. If such a scenario comes to pass, Bruma would still get a chance.

[PloKoon13]

Not sure if you've read that wrong, the "they" referred to is Bolton. Meanwhile links to Cahill are now everywhere. Apparently his contract includes a £17 million release clause.

My mistake. I read it as 'if they lose Bolton's Cahill'.

[amART]

i want him, he is good.

[Hutch]

My mistake. I read it as 'if they lose Bolton's Cahill'.

I thought that was the case. Easily done!

So how would you rate Cahill as a possibility?

[PloKoon13]

I thought that was the case. Easily done!

So how would you rate Cahill as a possibility?

He's a fairly decent player and would be good enough to fill the gap, but we can't really throw £15million around for players on his level, and who probably won't play that often once the starters come back.

[BrewCrew]

He's a fairly decent player and would be good enough to fill the gap, but we can't really throw £15million around for players on his level, and who probably won't play that often once the starters come back.

I agree with everything you said, but at some point we need to define Ivan. Is he our third CB or a RB? We need 3 top level CB like when we had Terry, Alex, and Carvahlo. If Ivan is going to be that CB, then we need more RB cover. We surely need one more defender for depth reasons.

[sdsdsdsd]

I agree with everything you said, but at some point we need to define Ivan. Is he our third CB or a RB? We need 3 top level CB like when we had Terry, Alex, and Carvahlo. If Ivan is going to be that CB, then we need more RB cover. We surely need one more defender for depth reasons.

Ivanovic was voted the best rb in the EPL last season, IMO it is stupid not to play him there. If it was up to me, i'd buy Cahill and maybe look to selling either Paulo or Bosingwa. Stick Ivan at rb and play Cahill/Jagielka or another player at cb. Don't like the Terry/Alex partnership because it lacks pace, we'd get torched by strikers who are quick.

[forbzy]

Ivanovic was voted the best rb in the EPL last season, IMO it is stupid not to play him there. If it was up to me, i'd buy Cahill and maybe look to selling either Paulo or Bosingwa. Stick Ivan at rb and play Cahill/Jagielka or another player at cb. Don't like the Terry/Alex partnership because it lacks pace, we'd get torched by strikers who are quick.

I think Ivan has shown recently he is a fine center back too. But right now our 2 options at Right back are not convincing. Paulo is I think fine as a backup option although he isn't getting any younger. But Bossie is not convincing defensively. He can contribute well going forward but he isn't in the same class as say Ashley Cole defensively. In a way it may have worked to our advantage last season when he was out and we played Ivan at right back. We may have lost a little threat on the right wing but we were probably more secure defensively. Having said that we also had an extra CB in Ricky last year so we could afford to lose one of the CB options and still have a strong defense. This season we've been struck by injuries in the middle and with less cover we've had to play Ivan there. Now Bossie is back so it is up to him to prove he can find his best form at right back. Even if he does I think our defense is not as strong with him at Right back but I suppose on the flipside he should ensure we create more opportunities going forward.

I think we should decide on whether Bossie should stay before we determine whether a CB or RB is most urgent. Its a shame we don't have any emerging right backs of note in the reserves. We seem to have a surplus of quality Left Backs!

[bcarroll]

Let Bosingwa go and sign a RB who can defend more effectively. Someone like for example the Uruaguan hardman Maxi Perrera from Benfica who wouldn't cost the earth. Paulo can remain as backup until such time as Chabaloah (spelling) is ready to break in first team squad. Let Terry and Ivanovic build upon their CB partnership with Alex as 3rd choice CB filling in when needed when he returns from injury. Bayern did show an interest in Bosingwa maybe a deal can be done in jan. I think we should recall Mancienne from his loan at Wolves aswell as cover as he has seen little playing time at Wolves anyway.

[forbzy]

Let Bosingwa go and sign a RB who can defend more effectively. Someone like for example the Uruaguan hardman Maxi Perrera from Benfica who wouldn't cost the earth. Paulo can remain as backup until such time as Chabaloah (spelling) is ready to break in first team squad. Let Terry and Ivanovic build upon their CB partnership with Alex as 3rd choice CB filling in when needed when he returns from injury. Bayern did show an interest in Bosingwa maybe a deal can be done in jan. I think we should recall Mancienne from his loan at Wolves aswell as cover as he has seen little playing time at Wolves anyway.

Perrera was impressive in the World Cup but wasn't he a defensive midfielder? Also I think Chalobah is a CenterBack/Defensive Midfielder. Mancienne on the other hand could work at right back. He's turned out for England many times in that position and looked decent enough. Doesn't offer as much going forward but is pretty tidy defensively and has some pace.

[Star]

I think we need to wheel and deal a bit, I'd keep Bos until the summer then offload him to the highest bidder, we must shore up the centre of defence and use Ivanovic as cover along with Bruma in my opinion. I am quite amazed that the Club and Carlo failed to use the Ricky to Real deal to sort out our squad issues pre-season - knowing JT had back issues and Alex was playing with a problem for much of last season, it has to be a money issue why we never went into the transfer market , otherwise Bruma as stated would have played instead of being ignored. Cost cutting is a delicate situation, I really believe that throughout the club everyone are looking over their shoulders and that is a huge worry. Cahill nah, not for me, Phil Jones maybe, he is very adaptable and able to play full back and as a holding midfielder comfortably. It makes him a true squad player very much like Ivan and in cost cutting eyes a cushion for Carlo and the board. It still bugs me why we never had the nous to get VDV in the Ricky deal, sometimes when cost cutting comes in to play common sense goes out of the window as in the way we dealt with the Butch Wilkins episode and other backroom changes.

[Star]

Thus .... Ivan Terry Jones Cole ....

[charierre]

I think we need to wheel and deal a bit, I'd keep Bos until the summer then offload him to the highest bidder, we must shore up the centre of defence and use Ivanovic as cover along with Bruma in my opinion. I am quite amazed that the Club and Carlo failed to use the Ricky to Real deal to sort out our squad issues pre-season - knowing JT had back issues and Alex was playing with a problem for much of last season, it has to be a money issue why we never went into the transfer market , otherwise Bruma as stated would have played instead of being ignored. Cost cutting is a delicate situation, I really believe that throughout the club everyone are looking over their shoulders and that is a huge worry. Cahill nah, not for me, Phil Jones maybe, he is very adaptable and able to play full back and as a holding midfielder comfortably. It makes him a true squad player very much like Ivan and in cost cutting eyes a cushion for Carlo and the board. It still bugs me why we never had the nous to get VDV in the Ricky deal, sometimes when cost cutting comes in to play common sense goes out of the window as in the way we dealt with the Butch Wilkins episode and other backroom changes.

Isn't Bos available on a Bosman come summer and him like Ivan can sign pre-contract agreements with teams abroad come January?

[Hutch]

Article from the Mail, for what it's worth; it's basically a rehash of the earlier story in the Mirror:

Gary Cahill lined up by Chelsea move for Bolton defender to partner John Terry

Chelsea are preparing a January swoop for Bolton’s England hopeful Gary Cahill.

With captain John Terry increasingly injury prone and seemingly short of a regular central defensive partner, manager Carlo Ancelotti is desperate to bolster his team at the back.

Ancelotti's side have surrendered top spot in the table during their slump and the Londonders have sounded out Bolton about England international Cahill.

The 24-year-old was handed his international debut as a substitute against Bulgaria in September and has also been heavily linked with Arsenal and Liverpool.

Bolton are reported to have lined up Aston Villa's Curtis Davies, on loan at Leicester, as a possible replacement if they lose Cahill.

LINK

[PloKoon13]

Since when did it become taboo to use facts and evidence when making a point in the media?

[Hutch]

Since when did it become taboo to use facts and evidence when making a point in the media?

This is the Mail we're talking about here. Nuff said.

[The Moos]

With captain John Terry increasingly injury prone

Maybe I've blocked painful memories of JT getting injured all the time, but has he really been injury prone?

[Hutch]

Rumours flying around today that we're preparing a bid for Gary Cahill having had a £17 million offer for David Luiz turned down, which is also apparently the size of the buy out clause in Cahill's contract.

According to the Mail Benfica are "holding out for £25 million" but the original source of this story appears to be some Portuguese newspaper.

[BrewCrew]

Rumours flying around today that we're preparing a bid for Gary Cahill having had a £17 million offer for David Luiz turned down, which is also apparently the size of the buy out clause in Cahill's contract.

According to the Mail Benfica are "holding out for £25 million" but the original source of this story appears to be some Portuguese newspaper.

I wouldn't mind that at all. I have been impressed by cahill. He was tough on our strikers yesterday and he his big enough to handle the punishment that somebody like Drogba can dish out. Plus, another huge plus is that he is really good in the air. He seemed like a big target yesterday even with our defenders on him. I would welcome him.

[TheWestwayWonder]

If its Cahill for 17 or Luiz for 25, gimme Cahill.

Cahill may be a year and a half older, but he is English, which means he is adjusted to this league, and contributes to the homegrown tally. Luiz may be talented, but this would be a no brainer my book.

[big blue]

the only down side to signing cahill instead of David luiz is the fact that with luiz your getting a player whose as competent a right back as he is a centre back. With our squad looking thin having a versataille player like that would be benificial. trouble is whether it's worth 8 mil.