Coyle faces battle to keep Cahill

BOLTON manager Owen Coyle concedes he will have a difficult job hanging on to Gary Cahill this summer but insists the club will not be short-changed if they decide to sell the defender.

The 25-year-old England international has been linked with the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal and the Wanderers boss has no doubt he is capable of succeeding at the highest level.

However, having seen Blackburn’s England U21 star Phil Jones join Manchester United in a deal which could be worth £20m, Coyle is well aware of the value of his centre-back.

“I believe he could play for any club — I’d put my reputation on it,” said the Scot.

“There’s been a lot of interest — and you don’t have to be a genius to work out some of the top clubs in this country have been interested — but nothing concrete yet.”

“I would love him to stay. He is a fantastic player for the club and I am not saying I want him to go, but if he does it will be the right business for the club.”

Meanwhile Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has made his second summer transfer breakthrough by finally landing Senegal striker Demba Ba.

The 26-year-old former West Ham frontman’s move to St James’ Park was rubber-stamped yesterday, the Barclays Premier League club have confirmed.

The arrival of Ba, who scored seven times in 13 appearances for the Hammers during the second half of last season, came 24 hours after Magpies skipper Kevin Nolan headed for Upton Park in a deal believed to be worth in the region of £4m.

Pardew said: “Demba made a great impression with West Ham last season and is a great signing for this club.’’

Anderlecht have confirmed for the first time they and Chelsea are in discussions over Romelu Lukaku moving to Stamford Bridge.

And the transfer could involve Kevin De Bruyne joining the Brussels club on loan, with the midfielder admitting he was keen to leave Genk for the Blues and be farmed back out to his native Belgium.

Lukaku, 18, has long been linked with Chelsea, who he has confessed to support.

Rumours have been rife that Anderlecht generalmanager Herman vanHolsbeeck had visited London to thrash out a deal with the Barclays Premier League club.

And he has now confirmed that he has been in talks with them, in addition to other clubs, amid reports Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham are also interested in the teenager.

Van Holsbeeck told Sky Sports: “There is still a long way to go in the negotiations.

“We are indeed negotiating with Chelsea, but there are other clubs we are talking to.”