Gary Cahill to effectively end Chelsea career as he closes in on Fulham loan transfer

Fulham are increasingly hopeful they will secure the signing of Chelsea’s veteran defender Gary Cahill on loan for the rest of the season in a move that will effectively end his career at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are prepared to let the centre half leave with the 32-year-old also out of contract in the summer.

It is understood the former England international, who joined from Bolton for £7m in 2012, wanted to quit the west London club in the summer.

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Cahill was frustrated to be increasingly left out of the team by previous coach Antonio Conte, but has played even less under Maurizio Sarri, with his last match coming five weeks ago.

Fulham coach Claudio Ranieri wants to strengthen the team at the back and sees the acquisition of Cahill as key in their fight against relegation. Cahill has been linked with a number of clubs, including Arsenal, but their coach Unai Emery denied there is any interest.

Chelsea go into tonight’s game trailing leaders Liverpool, who face defending champions Manchester City tomorrow, by 11 points.

Defeats to Tottenham, Wolves and Leicester in the space of four weeks before Christmas have proved costly. And they could be without six players this evening because Olivier Giroud (ankle), Pedro (hamstring), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (back), Callum Hudson-Odoi (hamstring) and Danny Drinkwater (leg) are all struggling for fitness along with Fabregas.