Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is planning a £10 million bid for Bolton Wanderers defender Gary Cahill.
The Mail on Sunday says Wenger is desperately short of experienced central defenders and the long-term injury to Belgian Thomas Vermaelen has exacerbated their problems.
Cahill, 24, is now their No 1 target after his superb form this season has helped Bolton into the top five, a place cemented by their 2-2 draw at home to Blackpool.
Arsenal are likely to start the bidding at £10m though Bolton, whose debts have risen to £93m, will initially demand as much as £18m for a centre-half who made his England debut in September against Bulgaria.
