Arsenal legend identifies 'brilliant' defensive addition

Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour says he would 'love' Arsenal to sign Bolton defender Gary Cahill.

The former Aston Villa centre-back has seen his star continue to rise in recent months and will be rewarded for his imperious displays this season with a starting berth tonight when England take on Ghana.

Arsenal have been frequently linked with a move for the 25-year-old as Arsene Wenger looks to bolster his defence in the summer, and Parlour believes Cahill would be an excellent acquisition for the Gunners.

“I’d love to see Gary Cahill at Arsenal, he’s be brilliant for the centre-half role," Parlour told talkSPORT.

“Whether that happens we’ll have to wait and see.”

Wenger is known to be an admirer of Cahill, having previously described the stopper as a 'very good player', and is reportedly keen to bring him to Arsenal when the transfer window reopens.

According to Metro, it would take a significant outlay from Arsenal to land Cahill - with a fee of £18 million mooted - and Liverpool are said to be ready to battle the Gunners for his signature.