Bolton Wanderers boss Owen Coyle wanted Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe in a swap for Gary Cahill.
The Mirror says Coyle was approached by agents representing Spurs and asked if there were any Tottenham players he wanted, with winger David Bentley and defender Sebastien Bassong the men on offer.
However, the Trotters' chief refused to lose England centre-half Cahill solely for cash and let counterpart Harry Redknapp know he would have taken striker Defoe instead as part of the move.
Bolton are happy to keep their man, who is in the final year of his contract, after seeing off both Spurs and Arsenal in the last week of the window.
