GARY Cahill has admitted for the first time that he would leave the Reebok this summer if the right offer came along.

A string of top clubs are said to be monitoring the 24-year-old defender, who still harbours hope of making England’s squad for this summer’s World Cup.

And while he promised that he would not seek to engineer a move away from the club who took him from Aston Villa as an untested Premier League player, he accepts it would be difficult to turn down a chance to further his ambitions.

“If a big team wanted me to come and play for them, then you have got to be realistic and look at the fact it may be a right decision for both sides,” he said.

“I’m not saying for one minute I want to leave the club. I have loved my time here and the club has done brilliantly for me.

“I love all the staff and the players. But every player is ambitious and if a chance came to play for a top four team then I am sure, like most players, you would take it with both hands.”

Owen Coyle stoked the fires of speculation this week by saying he would not stand in Cahill’s way if a top club were willing to pay the right price for his defensive talisman.

Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal have all been linked with his signature since January, although a blood clot that caused the centre-half to miss 11 games in the New Year has checked his progress in the meantime.

Cahill accepts he owes a debt to Wanderers, who saw him through that ordeal, and while the club would appear to be open to offers, he insists he will stay focussed on his role at the Reebok.

“The club will have its own agenda but I have ambitions to go as far as I can in my career,” he said. “Not for one minute am I saying I want to leave and I have loved my time here. I am settled “The manager is understanding that probably any of our players had a chance to maybe to better their careers, I think that’s nice he wouldn’t stand in their way.

“Like I said, the club has been outstanding for me and I firmly believe I have become a better player.

“Who knows? It’s a big window and there is a lot of business done. If I stay, I won’t for one bit be unhappy.

“It’s been spoken about that I am the club’s most valuable asset but until a team comes and puts money on the table, I am going to be a Bolton player.”

Cahill’s next target will be to earn a place in Fabio Capello’s preliminary 30-man squad that will travel to a fitness camp in Austria next month to prepare for the tournament.

After a recent dip in form, it was back to business as usual on Saturday for the Whites star, who put in an effective performance in the 1-0 defeat at Tottenham.

“Maybe, looking at it honestly, it’s a big ask,” he said. “But I am pushing and striving to get myself in that long squad of 30 that goes to Austria.

“I think that's my main aim now. If it happens, that will be brilliant for me, If it doesn’t I will keep plugging away until it does.”