Chelsea poised to get their man

Chelsea are expected to finalise the signing of Bolton Wanderers defender Gary Cahill later today. Chelsea agreed a fee with Bolton last month, but have yet to conclude personal terms to bring the England international to Stamford Bridge.

Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas previously revealed that the two parties were 'miles apart' and that had prompted speculation Cahill was reconsidering the chance to move to West London. Reports also suggested that Premier League champions Manchester United were ready to make a late bid to hijack the deal, while Tottenham Hotspur have held a long-term interest in Cahill.

However, the centre-half is now poised to finalise his departure from the Reebok Stadium, where he is out of contract at the end of the season. Cahill's expected arrival at Chelsea will boost Villas-Boas' options at the back after Brazil international Alex handed in a transfer request at the start of December.

Villas-Boas is also weighing up whether to add one further player to his squad during the January transfer window after allowing Nicolas Anelka to move to China.

Elsewhere, Aston Villa remain optimistic Los Angeles Galaxy striker Robbie Keane will join them on loan. The Republic of Ireland captain is poised to join Villa for two months and is already training with the midlands club.

The eight-hour time difference between Birmingham and Los Angeles means any announcement will probably happen later today after the expected completion of the paperwork. Villa boss Alex McLeish would like Keane to be available for Saturday’s home Premier League clash with Everton.

Sources close to the club are confident a temporary deal for Keane will still go through. Keane has indicated he wants to join Villa and is conscious of retaining his match sharpness before rejoining Galaxy in March with the Euro 2012 finals in June.

Keane’s expected arrival is well timed with fellow striker Emile Heskey sidelined for up to a month with an Achilles injury.

Ipswich have agreed a deal with Leicester for Irish centre-back Sean St Ledger and are now waiting for a decision from the 27-yea-old as he weighs up a couple of other options. The 27-year-old has failed to have the desired impact at the King Power Stadium, making just eight league starts over the first half of the season.