Arsenal make derisory opening bid for Gary Cahill

It is being reported this morning that Arsene Wenger has given up hope of signing Phil Jagielka from Everton and has finally decided to pitch in with an opening bid for Bolton’s Gary Cahill.

The Mirror reckons that Wenger has valued Cahill at just £6million as the big defender only has one year left on his contract, and like Marouane Chamakh a couple of years ago, Wenger thinks that Bolton’s 17m price-tag is unrealistic when he could join Arsenal for free next summer.

Wenger is famous for making small offers for players to test the reactions of the selling clubs, but the Mirror says that Bolton have dismissed it out of hand, and claim that Reebok insiders think that Wenger is “taking the mickey”.

Blackburn have refused to sanction a move for Christopher Samba and David Moyes has refused to sell Wenger’s first choice, Phil Jagielka, which leaves Cahill as the most experienced Premier League centre-back on the market. Owen Coyle has made no secret of the fact that he would be willing to let Cahill move to Arsenal, but only if the deal is good for both Bolton and the player himself.

Obviously £6million doesn’t come into that category and Wenger would probably have to at least double that price before Bolton would even begin talks…….