Chelsea are ready to meet Gary Cahill - and demand a straight answer on their £22million contract offer.
The Blues' manager Andre Villas-Boas and chief executive Ron Gourlay have run out of patience with Bolton's England centre-half after agreeing a £7million fee with the Trotters a fortnight ago, and want an immediate decision from him.
They had hoped to meet Cahill on Wednesday, but were thwarted.
Club and player will now try to close the deal and finalise terms on a contract running until 2017 in the next 24 hours.
Cahill puzzlingly spoke to Bolton boss Owen Coyle and chairman Phil Gartside on Wednesday, despite being cleared to head to London to seal the transfer.
It has been stressed by Bolton that there are no rival bids from Manchester United or Manchester City for Cahill.
Chelsea will go elsewhere if he does not say 'yes' on Thursday.
The delay is putting both clubs on edge, because Coyle needs the cash from selling Cahill to make deals of his own, and Bolton do not want to lose him on a Bosman in the summer.
Cahill has had two weeks to pull the trigger on swapping a relegation battle for Champions League football.
His stalling has shocked insiders close to the deal.
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The Blues' manager Andre Villas-Boas and chief executive Ron Gourlay have run out of patience with Bolton's England centre-half after agreeing a £7million fee with the Trotters a fortnight ago, and want an immediate decision from him.
They had hoped to meet Cahill on Wednesday, but were thwarted.
Club and player will now try to close the deal and finalise terms on a contract running until 2017 in the next 24 hours.
Cahill puzzlingly spoke to Bolton boss Owen Coyle and chairman Phil Gartside on Wednesday, despite being cleared to head to London to seal the transfer.
It has been stressed by Bolton that there are no rival bids from Manchester United or Manchester City for Cahill.
Chelsea will go elsewhere if he does not say 'yes' on Thursday.
The delay is putting both clubs on edge, because Coyle needs the cash from selling Cahill to make deals of his own, and Bolton do not want to lose him on a Bosman in the summer.
Cahill has had two weeks to pull the trigger on swapping a relegation battle for Champions League football.
His stalling has shocked insiders close to the deal.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]