Owen Coyle dismisses reports of a hitch in Cahill deal

Bolton manager Owen Coyle has played down reports of a hitch in the proposed deal to take Gary Cahill to Chelsea.

Cahill is expected to join Chelsea in the January transfer window after a fee was agreed for the player.

However, Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas suggested the deal had stalled with the two parties being "miles apart" regarding personal terms.

However, Coyle has dismissed the significance of the early negotiations.

"I heard what Andre Villas-Boas said the other day that they were a bit apart. He's obviously heard from one meeting," said the Scot.

"They've only had one meeting with Gary's representative and then, with the games coming up, I had to make sure Gary was focused. Gary hasn't spoken to Chelsea yet.

"It's like anything else, if I got into a meeting with you, we're not going to shake hands after two seconds and agree. You're going to be apart, that's how negotiations work.

"Whatever comes in the next few days, it'll come, but if it doesn't then Gary remains a Bolton player."

Bolton face Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday night.