Chelsea race to avoid Gary Cahill being cup tied

Chelsea are reportedly hoping to complete their move for Gary Cahill this weekend, before the defender has the chance to play in the FA Cup for Bolton.

The clubs have agreed a £7m fee for the player, but negotiations over personal terms are currently stalled.

Reports suggest that Cahill is pushing for a five-and-a-half-year contract worth close to £25m, but Andre Villas-Boas has warned that the 26-year-old risks missing out on the deal if his demands are too high.

Bolton boss Owen Coyle is likely to play Cahill against Macclesfield this weekend if a final agreement is not reached, meaning that he would be unavailable for Chelsea in the competition.

Reports yesterday suggested that Manchester United were preparing a shock swoop for Cahill if talks with Chelsea continued to falter.