Match Report: QPR 0 Bolton 4

QPR began life back in the top flight with a heavy loss as Bolton taught them a painful lesson in the unforgiving nature of Premier League football. The home side fared well in the first period but trailed at half-time after Gary Cahill's superb 25-yard shot. Bolton excelled in the second half and seized an unbreakable hold on the game through Danny Gabbidon's own goal and Ivan Klasnic's deflected strike. Fabrice Muamba slotted in a fourth before QPR's Clint Hill was sent off. It was a miserable but fitting ending to the game for the home side, who faded quickly in the second half in the face of a powerful and thoroughly professional away performance from Wanderers. The Trotters had been asked by their manager Owen Coyle to improve on a positive 2010-11 campaign and made impressive first strides towards delivering on that request. QPR have also made great steps forward in recent years, but their ascent to the top flight for the first time since 1996 has been somewhat tainted by issues off the pitch regarding the potential sale of the club, a lack of big-money signings and a significant increase in ticket prices, which has left many fans aggrieved. There were noticeable gaps in the stands at Loftus Road but a sense of optimism prevailed, which was initially prolonged by what was a positive, if somewhat naive, first-half display from their team. They almost made the perfect start to life back in the Premier League when new signing DJ Campbell flicked the ball into the Bolton net from six yards, but the striker was rightly adjudged to have been offside. Campbell was to have a reasonably positive debut, suggesting he could repeat last season's feats with Blackpool for his new club, but the same could not be said of fellow summer recruit Kieron Dyer, who was taken off on a stretcher in just the seventh minute after falling awkwardly in a tackle. It was feared he had broken a bone in his foot but manager Neil Warnock confirmed there had been no break. The Hoops did not let it affect them, though, and fashioned a number of chances but playmaker Adel Taraabt, who was largely shackled throughout, chipped one wide and Jay Bothroyd saw the best of these headed over by Gretar Steinsson. In first half stoppage time, Bolton demonstrated the need to take your chances in the Premier League when Cahill collected the ball 25 yards out and curled an excellent shot into the far corner to give his side the lead. The second half belonged to Bolton, who extended their lead when Chris Eagles' free-kick was deflected into his own net by Danny Gabbidon in the 67th minute before sealing their win three minutes later when Klasnic's shot from inside the box was deflected in by Bradley Orr. With 11 minutes to go Muamba collected from Klasnic and strode through to side-foot in a fourth before Hill completed QPR's horror-show by getting himself sent off for headbutting Bolton's Martin Petrov in the chest in the last minute.

Chelsea move for Cahill

Chelsea are reported to have entered the race to sign Gary Cahill as Arsenal drag their feet over a move for the defender.Bolton are keen to cash in on the central defender but despite plenty of interest from the Premier League's top clubs, an offer has yet to be made and Cahill remains in the Trotters squad.Arsenal have always been favourites to land Cahill but the two clubs are struggling to agree a deal as Wanderers hold out for £17million, while the Gunners want to include players in part exchange.Tottenham and Manchester City have also been linked but reports now claim that Chelsea are leading the chase after Blues skipper John Terry recommended him to new boss Andre Villas-Boas.
Chelsea have the cash to meet Bolton's valuation and Cahill could be on his way to Stamford Bridge if Villas-Boas pursues his reported interest in the England international.

Chelsea eye Pepe move

Reports in Spain claim Real Madrid defender Pepe is on Andre Villas-Boas' shopping list.The Chelsea boss is being linked with plenty of new talent in his first week at the club with a centre-half thought to be high up his list, and Madrid daily 'Marca' is reporting that the Portuguese centre-half is on his radar.Pepe has been at the Bernabeu since 2007 and has featured regularly for the club since his arrival. Chelsea are said to be preparing a lucrative €5m-per-season deal to make the move.Gary Cahill and Inter Milan's Lucio are also being linked with a move to Stamford bridge, while Anderlecht have indicated that the Blues are still interested in their wonderkid Romelu Lukaku.The Belgian club's director of football Herman van Holsbeeck has denied reports that Villas-Boas is not as keen on the striker -- who has been likened to Didier Drogba -- as his predecessor Carlo Ancelotti.But he says that Roman Abramovich will need to loosen his purse strings considerably in order to land the striker.

"People say the new Chelsea manager doesn't want Lukaku -- but they have different information to me," Van Holsbeeck said. "But we will only sell him if it is good for both ourselves and the player. We are asking serious money for him."

Liverpool to Launch Adam and Dann Bids

Kenny Dalglish could take Liverpool's summer transfer spending to more than £35m by the end of the week should he lodge bids for both Charlie Adam and Scott Dann, but the Scot will face competition from Arsenal if he chooses to step up his interest in the Birmingham defender.Dalglish has already lavished £16m on the former Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson and is expected to lodge a formal offer of around £9m with Blackpool for their captain in the next 48 hours.Adam is known to be keen to move to Anfield and formal talks with the Bloomfield Road club are expected to start on Thursday.But the Liverpool manager faces a rather more complicated task in attempting to recruit the defensive cover he believes his squad requires, with Dalglish weighing up the merits of moving for Dann, a boyhood Liverpool fan, with the risk of missing out on a second defensive target in a week.Liverpool had hoped to beat both Arsene Wenger and Manchester United to the signature of Phil Jones -- although the Anfield club always feared losing out to the champions should they enter the race for the Blackburn player's signature -- but, since the completion of his transfer to Old Trafford, both Liverpool and Arsenal have been forced to examine alternatives.Top of the list both on Merseyside and in north London is Dann, with Wenger thought to be considering moving for the 24-year-old as well as Blackburn's towering Congolese international Christopher Samba as he seeks to add height and power to his side.Despite his childhood allegiance to Anfield, it is believed Dann is tempted by the prospect of Champions League football on offer at the Emirates, while Wenger believes he offers better value for money than Bolton's Gary Cahill and the same technical accomplishment.Liverpool are determined to infuse Dalglish's squad with a core of British talent and have identified Dann as a potential complement to Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel.The club are examining a number of other candidates -- including Lyon's Dejan Lovren -- but their hand may be forced by Arsenal's interest.Dalglish is also hopeful of concluding swift deals for Arsenal left-back Gael Clichy, Aston Villa winger Stewart Downing, Roma goalkeeper Doni and Ipswich striker Connor Wickham as he attempts to conduct the majority of his transfer activity before Liverpool return for pre-season training at Melwood on July 4.The Anfield club are also expected to sign Frenchman Sylvain Marveaux, the Rennes winger, on a free transfer.

Goalkeeper Pepe Reina has undergone surgery on a double hernia. However, the Spanish international is expected to be fit to return for the start of pre-season training