London: Arsenal are leading bitter rivals Tottenham as the race hots up for Bolton Wanderers defender Gary Cahill.
The Gunners are in pole position to land the England international as Cahill is understood to favour a move to Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hopes to complete the deal by the end of the week although the Gunners are hoping to haggle the price down from the 17 million pounds release clause in Cahill's contract.
Cahill, 25, is in line to join Arsenal despite late interest from their north London rivals Spurs, who have proposed player-plus-cash deals including Robbie Keane, Jermaine Jenas and Sebastien Bassong.
But Spurs boss Harry Redknapp looks set to fail in his bid to hijack the move as Cahill wants to test himself in the Champions League. He is also ready to snub interest from Manchester City as he feels he will get more first-team opportunities at Arsenal.
Both Wenger and Redknapp see Cahill as the type of uncompromising central defender who can help their side challenge for the Premier League title next season.
As Goal.com revealed earlier this month, Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis had a private lunch with Bolton counterpart Phil Gartside at the two-day Premier League AGM in Doncaster and spoke about Cahill.
A move for Cahill would smash Arsenal's transfer record and Bolton are ready to cash in on their prize asset after their last set of financial accounts revealed debts of 93 million pounds.
Cahill could be joined at Arsenal by Blackburn captain Christopher Samba as Wenger looks to add much-needed steel to his squad having identified central defence as the weak point in his side.
Cahill joined Bolton from Aston Villa for 5 million pounds in January 2008 and has produced consistently excellent performances at the Reebok Stadium, resulting in three England caps.
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