Gary Cahill to Chelsea: Why Transfer Can Bring Andre Villa-Boas Trophies

Gary Cahill could be on his way to London after Chelsea and Bolton reportedly agreed on a fee for the English international defender's transfer.

Or not, if the doomsday reports about the disagreements over personal terms are true.

Assuming it's the former, could Cahill's potential arrival mean more trophies for Chelsea?

Maybe not this season. Chelsea are 11 points behind league leaders Manchester City and Manchester United. What's more, even if Cahill does join the club, the settling-in process might last longer than the Blues' run in the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League.

With all that being said, it is actually possible. Gary Cahill's arrival at Stamford Bridge could in fact signal—or merely coincide with—the start of a new era of success at Chelsea under Andre Villas-Boas.

The reason is simple, and it comes in the form of one of the biggest cliches in American sports.

Defense wins championships.

Let's take a look at Chelsea's title-winning teams from 2004-05 and 2005-06. The former won the title by 12 points, thanks in large part to a defense that conceded just 15 goals all season. That's an average of 0.39 goals per match.

With such a dominant defense, Chelsea didn't need an outstanding offense. Indeed, midfielder Frank Lampard led the team with 13 league goals.

Chelsea's defense was nearly as strong during the following season, allowing just 22 goals for an average of 0.58 per match. That year, the Blues won the title by eight points over Manchester United.

The team's success started in central defense, which featured a youngish John Terry (in his mid-20s prime) and the experienced Ricardo Carvalho (already a Champions League winner with Porto). On the flanks, Chelsea also featured talented and experienced players in William Gallas and Paulo Ferreira.

The potential addition of Cahill could have a similar effect to that of Carvalho. In Terry, Chelsea already have a captain who—at 31—is vastly experienced, slightly past his prime and somewhat mistake-prone. The other central defender, Brazilian David Luiz, is as talented as he is entertaining and unpredictable.

By moving into Luiz's spot, Cahill would play the role of the up-and-coming Terry, while Terry fills the Carvalho role of experienced veteran. In addition, Cahill and Terry could potentially form a partnership at club and international level for a couple of years. David Luiz could be sold to fund more acquisitions or serve as cover for both Cahill and Terry.

Meanwhile, farther up the pitch, Villas-Boas would—we assume—continue his overhaul project.

Nicolas Anelka is set to leave in January, and Didier Drogba's days with the club appear numbered. A transfer or two in the attacking third would complement and enhance the stylish play of attacking midfielder Juan Mata, who has so far been a revelation.

It all starts in central defense, though, and that's surely why Chelsea and Villas-Boas have been so preoccupied with the potential acquisition of Cahill.