Arsenal target defender gary Cahill

The Gunners have reportedly made the 25-year-old their top target as a result of the injury to the Belgian and being knocked back in their pursuit of Phil Jagielka and Chris Samba.

Arsenal are strongly considering a bid for Bolton Wanderers defender Gary Cahill after Thomas Vermaelen picked up an injury in the friendly defeat against Benfica on Saturday, according to the Daily Mail.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger reportedly sent chief scout Steve Rowley to the Reebok Stadium on Friday night to run the rule over the 25-year-old in Bolton’s 1-0 defeat to Spanish side Levante, and the north Londoners are now believed to have watched him over 20 times.

Wenger has been stung by criticism both from the club’s fans and neutral observers over his failure to secure defensive reinforcements this summer, and has now apparently put a defender with Premier League experience at the top of his wish-list.

A move for Cahill seems even more likely now after Vermaelen’s injury on Saturday and failed bids for Everton’s Phil Jagielka and Christopher Samba of Blackburn already this summer.

The Merseysiders are reportedly demanding £18 million for Jagielka, a figure significantly in excess of the £12m Arsenal are willing to offer for the 28-year-old, while Rovers have already turned down a bid of £8m for Samba.

Cahill is believed to have a release clause of around £17m in his contract, although Wenger is confident he can get a deal done for less as the Bolton man has less than a year to run on his current contract.

Ultimately, however, the figure the Gunners can stretch to may depend on whether captain Cesc Fabregas completes his protracted move to Barcelona or Samir Nasri leaves for Manchester City before the close of the transfer window.