“I don’t want to jump the gun, but as things stand at this time, probably, yes,” Cahill said, when asked if he could leave in January.
OPINION
Gary Cahill has confirmed that he wants to quit Chelsea in the January transfer window – and that should be music to the ears of Aston Villa.
The 32-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and has not played a minute of football for Chelsea since Maurizio Sarri replaced Antonio Conte in charge at Stamford Bridge.
He was an unused substitute in the Europa League win against PAOK on Thursday, and after the match he was quoted by the Telegraph as saying that he has had enough and it is about time that he leaves the Premier league giants.
“I’m not a guy who is willing to accept not playing. It’s all about playing. Your career’s short enough as it is. I’ve got maximum respect for everybody here at the football club, for the fans and all the players. But sometimes you have to make tough decisions to keep your career going forward.
“As it is now, I’m not really enjoying things. Having been a big part of things for seven years and played a huge part, not just a squad player, I’m definitely finding it difficult this year to deal with that situation.”
This is great news for Aston Villa.
Steve Bruce is in desperate need of new centre-backs with his defence looking as though it could concede a goal at any moment.
Mile Jedinak, naturally a midfielder, is being forced to partner James Chester at centre-back and it is clear that the Australian is well out of his comfort zone and that needs to change as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, Villa will have to wait until January before they can try to lure Cahill back to Villa Park 10 years after he originally left, but it will certainly be worth the wait.
The £100,000-a-week (Spotrac) defender is a cut above what Bruce currently has at his disposal at the moment and there will surely be some Premier League clubs that would be interested in the former Bolton player.
He may not be the quickest on his feet anymore, but he is on the most experienced centre-backs in England, having won the Premier League twice, the Europa League, FA Cup and, of course, the 2011/12 Champions League.
Cahill would be such a perfect fit at Villa Park and Bruce – or whoever is in charge come January – needs to go all out to tempt him back to the West Midlands club because promotion back to the Premier League could hinge on this kind of signing.