Gary Cahill Set for Chelsea as Owen Coyle confirmed deal

Owen Coyle has confirmed Bolton have agreed to sell Gary Cahill to Chelsea.
The England defender, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is expected to join Chelsea for a fee in the region of £7million.

Heads up: Bolton defender Cahill is on the brink of joining Chelsea

Manager Andre Villas-Boas has been keen to bolster his defensive options after telling Alex he can look for a new club.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's clash with Wolves, Coyle said: 'The situation is that the clubs, Bolton Wanderers and Chelsea, have at this moment in time agreed a fee for Gary (Cahill).

Club and country: Cahill will partner John Terry at the heart of Chelsea's defence

 

'Now it is up to Gary's representatives to speak to Chelsea.
'From our part, I've said to Gary that this is why he has representatives and that his focus is on football and football only.
'Gary's mind will on making sure that he is ready to give a big performance for Bolton Wanderers against Wolves. He has to be ready to give everything, as he always is.'
If Cahill, who joined Bolton in 2008 from Aston Villa, is to leave Wanderers in the next few days, Coyle will view it as a blessing that the move is occurring early in the January transfer window, giving him a chance to reinvest the money in new players.

The Trotters are currently 19th in the table and with Cahill departing, it would seem imperative that the squad - which has been blighted by injuries - is strengthened over the coming weeks if they are to avoid relegation.
Bolton are expected to move for New York Red Bulls defender Tim Ream, who recently spent some time training with them, although Coyle would not be drawn at this point on the specific identity of any targets.

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Sir Alex on alert as Inter look to sell Sneijder in transfer window to fund new signings

Manchester United could resurrect their interest in Wesley Sneijder as Inter Milan plan to sell their midfielder to raise funds for rebuilding.
Sneijder came close to moving to Old Trafford in the summer, but Fergie was warned off by the size of the figures involved in the deal.
However, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson could be forced to dip into the transfer market this January after the club suffered injuries to a number of key players.

Big earner: Wesley Sneijder

 

Darren Fletcher is taking an extended break from the game with ulcerative colitis, Nemanja Vidic has been ruled out for the season, Anderson is battling a long-term knee problem and Javier Hernandez and Tom Cleverly are also sidelined.
The Holland international, 27, will have to accept less than his £200,000-a-week wages if he is to complete a move to the champions.
Ferguson has admitted that he would be keen to sign Sneijder, should he become available in the coming weeks.
Asked if there would be new arrivals in January, he said: 'Not necessarily. I don't know why people keep going on about it.

New blood: Fergie could be forced into the transfer market

'(I won't buy) unless someone appears we have always been interested in appears, but there isn't (at the moment).'
Inter boss Claudio Ranieri has admitted he'd find it hard to sell Sneijder, but hasn't ruled out the possibility of him leaving in January.
Ranieri said: 'I don't want to think of a team without Sneijder because he is the feather in our cap.
'I am used to talking between four walls and if I have something to say about transfers, I say it to (Inter president Massimo) Moratti.'

Mounting pressure: Mounting injuries are making it hard for United's midfield

Manchester United 5 Wigan 0: Berbatov treble turns heat up on title rivals City

Dimitar Berbatov scored a hat-trick as Manchester United muscled their way level with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
City still hold the advantage on goal difference, but even that lead was cut to five by United's second successive five-goal triumph.
It was tough luck on Wigan, whose chance disappeared once Conor Sammon was sent off for catching Michael Carrick with his elbow just before the break.

Welcome back: Michael Carrick congratulates Dimitar Berbatov on his first goal

Firing home: Berbatov grabs his first goal at Old Trafford

Remember me? Berbatov takes the plaudits against Wigan

Already leading through Ji-sung Park's early goal, United took maximum advantage. Berbatov doubled their lead before half-time, then scored twice more, bringing back memories of his form in the first half of last season, when he claimed three match balls.

On this occasion, he owed the honour to Wayne Rooney, who stepped aside to let him take the penalty after Park had been fouled by Antolin Alcaraz.

The excellent Antonio Valencia was also on target to ensure Sir Alex Ferguson will be handed the perfect 70th birthday present of a place on top of the table should his side overcome Blackburn on New Year's Eve, given City are not in action until 24 hours later.

If there was one game where Ferguson might not have been too alarmed to field a defence including Michael Carrick and Antonio Valencia, this was it.

Festive cheer: Wigan fans dressed up for the Boxing Day showdown

Wigan had not managed so much as a draw in 13 previous meetings between the sides and the combined score from their past four encounters was 16-0.
United soon added to their tally as Patrice Evra slalomed his way into the Wigan box, then picked out Ji-sung Park with a neat cut-back.

The South Korean had enough space to pick his spot, into the top right corner, well out of Ali Al Habsi's reach.

United continued to create chances at regular intervals, with Nani, Berbatov and Darron Gibson all trying their luck.

However, Wigan were not content to play the meek visitors and with Victor Moses building on recent impressive performances and Ronnie Stam exploiting the hosts' lack of an orthodox left-sided midfield player, created just as many chances as their hosts early on.

Opener: Ji-sung Park slots home to open the floodgates for the champions

Take that: Park wheels away after putting United ahead in the match

Sammon wasted the best, turning on to David Jones' pass but drilling a shot straight at Anders Lindegaard. The Irishman's day quickly got much worse, and any chance Wigan had disappeared.

There is no doubt Sammon's arm did end up in Carrick's face, offering referee Phil Dowd the opportunity to send him off. However, it did appear the Wigan man was attempting to use it as a barrier to shield a bouncing ball from his opponent.
There was no malice, and very little force, behind the action and Latics chief Roberto Martinez was not on his own in believing his side had been harshly treated. And, as good sides do, United quickly exploited the situation.

Had injury not struck him down in August, Gibson might well have moved on in the summer. As it was, Ferguson was probably glad to have him available for this one.

Off you go: Conor Sammon looks at the United players after being dismissed

Make that four: Antonio Valencia lashes home to add to the total

The Irishman delivered a teasing cross from the right flank, which ended up with Berbatov. Making only his second Premier League start of the season, United's record signing took some time to get the ball under control.
However, he had the strength to hold off Antolin Alcaraz and drilled his shot past Al Habsi. The departure of Evans at half-time led to Evra becoming possibly becoming United's shortest ever central defender.
He was limping too not long afterwards, although that proved to be a false alarm. There did not seem much wrong with the Frenchman when he went straight through the back of Moses anyway.

Jones curled the free-kick narrowly wide, which turned out to be Wigan's last opportunity before United struck again. Valencia was having a quietly effective game and his prodded pass left Berbatov with enough space and time to smash his shot beyond Al Habsi.
Having fallen so far behind Manchester City in the goal difference stakes, United sensed it was time to start making up some ground. Valencia's excellent performance continued when he drilled his first Premier League goal of the season into the bottom left corner.
Then, after Park was chopped down in the box by Alcaraz, substitute Rooney let Berbatov finish off his hat-trick.

Spot on: Berbatov slides home his penalty to complete his hat-trick

Delight: Berbatov grabs the match ball for his hat-trick, while Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates with Nani

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