By Mark Heys
January 28 2008

Aston Villa defender Gary Cahill could be a Bolton Wanderers player within the next 24 hours according to a source from the Villa Park club which claims that the England U21 international is on the verge of completing a move.

Bolton where knocked back in their initial bid to land the 22-year old late last week but now it seems as if they have gone back with an improved offer of between £4.5 million and £5 million.

Cahill has attracted interest from a number of clubs during the transfer window and has only recently come back from a loan spell with Championship side Sheffield United.

He hasn't been a regular at Villa due to the likes of Martin Laursen, Zat Knight and Olaf Mellberg being higher up in the pecking order but is still highly rated by the Villans manager Martin O'Neill.

O'Neill wants to keep Cahill but understands the young centre half wants to play regular first team football and a sizeable bid from Wanderers looks to have finally landed them their man.

“There is nothing concrete decided but it wouldn’t be a surprise if something happened in the next 24 hours or so.” said a Villa source over the weekend.

Since turning professional in 2004, Cahill has made just under 30 appearances for Villa as well as spending time out on loan with the Blades and Burnley.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror claims that Bolton boss Gary Megson is lining up an ambitious attempt to bring Barcelona's Eidur Gudjohnsen back to the Reebok Stadium on loan.