• Premier League

Cahill bid was more than £6m - Wenger

Gary Cahill has one year left on his Bolton contract © PA Photos

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has confirmed the club submitted a bid to Bolton for defender Gary Cahill, but says a rumoured figure of £6 million is inaccurate.

The Bolton hierarchy have reacted angrily to the Gunners' offer, with Wanderers boss Owen Coyle saying: "The word derisory doesn't even cover it. When I make an offer for a player, I'd like to think in the right ball park, but this wasn't even close."

England international centre-back Cahill reportedly has a release fee of £17 million written into his Bolton contract, which is due to expire at the end of next season. He fits the profile of the imposing, aerially-dominant defender that Wenger is searching for in order to shore up a defence that was alarmingly leaky last season, surrendering 43 goals in the league.

And Wenger insists he is willing to pay more than £6 million to secure the 25-year-old's signature. "It's completely wrong and nothing to do with how much we are ready to pay," he said.

"I believe the negotiation is between two parties and you only have to sell if you can agree on the price. In this case the information is below what has been spoken about.

"You can believe me, or you can believe [Bolton chairman Phil Gartside]. I just tell you that it's not right, it's not the truth. And if Gartside says I am lying, I'm ready to confront him."

Having lost Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas, Wenger has money to spend and is expected to bring in a centre back and a midfielder before the transfer window closes at the end of August, particularly now that the Gunners' Champions League qualification has been secured.

Arsenal have been linked with defenders Phil Jagielka, Chris Samba and Per Mertesacker in recent months, but it seems like Cahill has now shot to the top of Wenger's shortlist.

He showed the technical ability the Frenchman values so highly when he curled in a 20-yard strike on the opening day of the season as Bolton triumphed 4-0 at QPR.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.