GARY CAHILL could be a Chelsea player by tomorrow, according to the Bolton Wanderers manager, Owen Coyle, with Chelsea confirming that talks are ongoing regarding the defender’s personal terms.
A fee has been agreed and Cahill will not play in Bolton’s FA Cup tie at Macclesfield Town, though Coyle denied this is because of the defender’s imminent move. The Scot said: “It’s nothing to do with the continuing speculation regarding Chelsea.
“He’s one of a number of players that probably needs to rest. And moving on, my opinion is I think there’s a chance the deal can be concluded by the end of the week. That’s where we’re at, but I’m not a party to any continued dialogue between Chelsea and Gary’s representative.”
Coyle denied there had been bids for Cahill from any other club, despite reported interest from Spurs and Manchester United. “When there’s a continued conjecture and everything that goes with it people are always going to throw up names,” he said.
“There hasn’t been any dialogue between ourselves and Manchester United or anything like that. We as a football club agreed a deal with Chelsea Football Club and for me that’s binding.”
Roberto Di Matteo, the Chelsea assistant manager, said: “A fee has been agreed and there are ongoing negotiations for personal terms. He would add very good qualities to our squad.”
But the Italian denied this would be a busy transfer window for Chelsea. He said: “I wouldn’t expect too much to happen in this market. We are happy with the quality we have.” Asked if he was confident that Didier Drogba, who has been linked with a move to China, would still be a Chelsea player at the close of the window Di Matteo said: “Very confident.”
He was equally unequivocal regarding Frank Lampard, whom Alex Ferguson yesterday denied would be joining Manchester United this month.
“I can’t see him leaving this club,” Di Matteo said. “He has been here for 10 years and he’s part of the successful history of this club.”
Di Matteo offered a spiky response to Ferguson ruling Chelsea out of the title race.
“Well what did he say about his own team?” he said. “I respect what Sir Alex says but mathematically we can still win it and that is our view and we will fight.”
For tomorrow’s FA Cup tie against Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge John Terry will undergo a fitness test on a knee today but Drogba and Salomon Kalou will be unavailable. The forwards fly to the Africa Cup of Nations today to play for Ivory Coast after Chelsea failed in a request for them to feature against Portsmouth.
