Coyle: Cahill sale was never close

Published: 05 Sep 2011 - 11:30:16

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Bolton manager Owen Coyle has revealed no club made a bid for defender Gary Cahill which was even worth considering in the closing days of the transfer window.

Arsenal were heavily linked with the centre-back and Tottenham made a late attempt to lure the England international, who is in the final year of his contract, to north London on deadline day. However, Coyle said no offer the club received - there were no official written bids - was anywhere near the value they placed on the 25-year-old.

"The bottom line is the clubs involved did not get close to what the club's valuation is of Gary Cahill to sell," said the Wanderers boss.

"That valuation to sell (because of his contract situation) would probably be less than what my valuation of him as a manager is, but the business side of it you have to look at.

"I don't know if they didn't think he was worth the money. It might have been a case of those clubs involved maybe didn't have that amount.

"I don't think there is any doubt managers out there know his quality but whether they had the finance to do anything about it is a different question.

"Any interested clubs didn't come close to what it would take for Gary to leave. It didn't give you anything to think about."