Bolton defender Gary Cahill has revealed that he would love to play Champions League football.
Cahill has been linked with moves to the likes of Tottenham and Arsenal and wants to test himself in Europe’s top club competition.
With doubts over the future of Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate, Harry Redknapp is expected to bring in a central defender in the summer.
He told the Daily Mail: “It’s a bit weird in a way. Normally when there is transfer speculation, the manager comes out and says, ‘They can forget it – he’s going nowhere’.
“But the thing about our manager is he’s not only ambitious for himself and his club, he’s ambitious for his players. He wants them to have the same drive and desire to get to the top. He expects us all to want to better ourselves.
“So when all the speculation started last summer, he called me in for a chat. He checked first of all that it hadn’t turned my head, then he came out with this statement about outgrowing the club one day.
“He just said, ‘Gaz, if you were happy just to tick along at your age there would be something wrong. You’ve got it in you to play at Champions League level and I honestly believe it’s going to happen for you’.
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“It was lovely to hear that, really flattering, and what he said has made it easier for me to contemplate moving on and taking another step forward in my career. If there is an opportunity to do something big you want to take it.
“I would never disrespect Bolton after all they have done for me but I am ready for the challenge.”
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