I couldn’t say no to Chelsea admits Cahill
CHELSEA new-boy Gary Cahill admits he was lured to Stamford Bridge by the prospect of challenging for the silverware that has so far eluded him.
The England centre-back became the Blues’ first signing of the January transfer window when his £7m move from Premier League strugglers Bolton was rubber-stamped yesterday.
Cahill could make his debut in Saturday’s lunchtime trip to Norwich and is relishing being part of a team fighting at the right end of the table – and who are still in contention for the Champions League and FA Cup.
“Chelsea is a massive club,” said the 26-year-old (below). “It is a club that looks to win trophies season in, season out and it is a big opportunity for me to be a part of that. Opportunities like this you can’t turn down.”
The former Aston Villa trainee will provide competition for first-choice central defensive pairing John Terry and David Luiz, as well as the more versatile Branislav Ivanovic.
Cahill, who has seven England caps and is likely to be part of Fabio Capello’s squad for this summer’s European Championships, has more in common with arch-stopper Terry than the flamboyant but erratic Luiz.
That might make him a more natural replacement for the ageing Terry, although he has partnered the Chelsea captain at international level and his arrival will do little to stifle doubts over the Brazilian’s future at Stamford Bridge.