Burnley Opinion: Clarets would strike gold by signing Gary Cahill for free
According to the Daily Mail, Burnley have expressed their interest in signing out-of-contract Chelsea star Gary Cahill on a free transfer in the summer, with manager Sean Dyche reportedly looking to add more experience to his ranks.
The Daily Mail also understands that the 33-year-old would need to take a pay cut to join Burnley, although he is likely to have other suitors in the Premier League.
Dyche is well aware of the growing interest in his first-choice centre-back James Tarkowski, who has been a standout performer at the heart of the defence for the Clarets over the last few years. (h/t Daily Mail)
The move, if it materializes, would see Cahill make a sensational return to Burnley for the first time since 2004-05 when he had a loan spell at Turf Moor from his boyhood club Aston Villa.
The 33-year-old was given a standing ovation by the fans at Stamford Bridge last Sunday and it remains to be seen where his next destination lies after being deemed surplus to the demands by Maurizio Sarri.
The Daily Mail reports that Cahill is determined to prove his mettle and play in the Premier League next season after making a ridiculously low 8 appearances for the Blues in all competitions this term.
The 33-year-old, who won 61 caps for England at the senior international level over the course of an illustrious and distinguished career, leaves Chelsea with a total of 290 appearances, having scored 25 times in the process.
There is hardly any accolade left for Cahill to be won after enjoying a wonderful trophy-laden spell at Stamford Bridge. The former England international has won 2 Premier League titles, 2 FA Cups, Europa League and Champions League trophies and is regarded as one of the most successful English defenders since the turn of the century.
To put things into perspective, Burnley would strike gold if they manage to lure a player of Gary Cahill’s stature to the club this summer. The Clarets are currently pretty well-stocked in their options at the heart of the defence but Cahill can be an upgrade on their defensive options.
The centre-back pairing of Ben Mee and James Tarkowski, that was crucial to Burnley’s 7th-place finish in the Premier League last season, looked a bit vulnerable in the earlier stages of the ongoing campaign.
However, both Mee and Tarkowski recovered from the early set-backs to play a pivotal role in steering the Clarets to safety in the top-flight for yet another season.
If Burnley do lose the services of Tarkowski in the summer, they would still have Kevin Long as a reliable option, but if Tarkowski stays put, one would probably expect Cahill to start ahead of Ben Mee.
Ben Gibson has failed to have the desired impact following his move from Middlesbrough last summer and Burnley can certainly do with another top-quality centre-back like Cahill in their ranks.
Burnley often defend very deep as a unit and that is exactly where Cahill’s experience and composure would come into play. Cahill is not just an incredible reader of the game at the back but he knows how to soak the pressure and clear his lines to safety.
Even at 33, Cahill is still quick enough to close down fast and agile opposition, with his anticipation skills and astute positioning often coming to his rescue.
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To sum it up, Gary Cahil is a complete centre-back and he still has what it takes to propel Burnley to greater heights in the Premier League.
