Aston Villa have pulled out of the race to sign Chelsea defender Gary Cahill as a potential deal is considered too expensive.

Villa have held talks with Chelsea over a possible January move for the former England international but are now considering other targets amid concerns over the financial cost.

Chelsea are willing to let Cahill leave next month and would prefer to sell the 33-year-old, who is understood to be on around £110,000 a week, or accept a loan arrangement with the club paying all of those wages in full.

Villa have identified the signing of a new centre-half as a priority when the transfer window opens and Cahill, a former Villa player, was high on Dean Smith's list. Cahill made 31 appearances for the club until he was sold to Bolton in 2008.

But Villa are now abandoning their pursuit after discovering that even a six-month deal could cost up to £4 million, including wages and a loan fee.