Arsenal Transfer Update: Bolton Boss Owen Coyle Expects New Bid for Gary Cahill

After seeing interest for defender Gary Cahill all summer, Bolton manager Owen Coyle expects Arsenal to lodge another transfer bid for his star during the January window.

Coyle had previously scoffed at Arsenal's most-concerted summer bid for the England international center back, saying, "the word derisory doesn't even cover [the bid]." Arsenal had been reported to have made a £6 million offer for the £17m-rated defender.

In his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's clash against Arsenal at the Emirates, however, the former Burnley boss was all smiles—saying nothing that would hint at any lingering feelings of discontent from the summer's protracted affair.

When asked about the future of the 25-year-old Cahill (who is out of contract next summer), and whether Arsenal might make another push for his services in January, Coyle allowed this much:

"I wouldn't be surprised. Arsene's always said he's a big admirer of Gary Cahill and, ultimately, the clubs never reached a fee—certainly the two chairman never got to a fee they felt was agreeable."

Arsenal have allowed 14 goals in five Premier League games this season, and first-choice center back Thomas Vermaelen is once again sidelined after missing most of last season to a nasty ankle injury.

With little in the way of adequate defensive cover behind current first-teamers Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny (Squillaci? Shudders), Arsene Wenger could very well be on the lookout for more depth come January.

Samir Nasri's £25 million move to Manchester City this past August proved that when a player is in the last year of his contract, teams are still willing (at least when they've got City's resources) to pony up ample amounts in order to secure a signature.

It seems certain that Wenger will haggle over Cahill's price, but with a number of other clubs expected to lodge bids this winter, it would behoove the Arsenal boss to not be too stingy.

Should he gamble by waiting to secure Cahill on a free transfer in the summer (a la Chamakh in 2010), Wenger could find himself out of luck.