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Dean Holdsworth has warned clubs circling round defensive gem Rob Holding he will only leave the Macron Stadium on Wanderers’ terms.
Arsenal have already been unsuccessful with one bid and after the 20-year-old’s call-up to the England Under-21 squad on Sunday, his signature will now come at an added premium.
A number of Premier League clubs have watched the academy graduate in his first full season with the Whites, as have Scottish giants Celtic.
And while Holdsworth has no doubt the youngster’s future lies at the top level of the game, he is confident the club will not have to snap up the first offer which comes along.
“It has to be a deal that suits the football club and not anyone else,” he told The Bolton News. “If it isn’t right we will not do it.
“He is going to play in the Premier League all day long. He will be a top player and I think he could go on to be an international.
“He has got representatives who speak to us and keep a dialogue with us. His heart is here and I think it always will be.
“At some point he will go on. I think he has to for his career because we rate him that highly.
“But right now we need to do the best for the football club and the fans.”
Though Holding has been valued as high as £7million inside the Wanderers camp, the club is realistic enough to know offers will be heavily incentive-led with bonuses based on factors such as future international appearances.
Unlocking some of that cash will then hinge on Holding realising the potential he has shown in his debut season in the Whites' first team.
But Holdsworth is confident the Tameside-born academy graduate has all the tools necessary to be a modern day centre-half at the highest level.
“There are qualities in him that I have seen in many top players I played with and played against,” said the Wanderers co-owner. “He is unflustered, calm on the ball, able to step into areas and that is a vital ingredient for any modern day centre-half now, he needs to be able to use the ball.
“Rob has got all of that, has an amazing future ahead of him, and if he listens to the right people he will achieve all that.”
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Arsenal have already been unsuccessful with one bid and after the 20-year-old’s call-up to the England Under-21 squad on Sunday, his signature will now come at an added premium.
A number of Premier League clubs have watched the academy graduate in his first full season with the Whites, as have Scottish giants Celtic.
And while Holdsworth has no doubt the youngster’s future lies at the top level of the game, he is confident the club will not have to snap up the first offer which comes along.
“It has to be a deal that suits the football club and not anyone else,” he told The Bolton News. “If it isn’t right we will not do it.
“He is going to play in the Premier League all day long. He will be a top player and I think he could go on to be an international.
“He has got representatives who speak to us and keep a dialogue with us. His heart is here and I think it always will be.
“At some point he will go on. I think he has to for his career because we rate him that highly.
“But right now we need to do the best for the football club and the fans.”
Though Holding has been valued as high as £7million inside the Wanderers camp, the club is realistic enough to know offers will be heavily incentive-led with bonuses based on factors such as future international appearances.
Unlocking some of that cash will then hinge on Holding realising the potential he has shown in his debut season in the Whites' first team.
But Holdsworth is confident the Tameside-born academy graduate has all the tools necessary to be a modern day centre-half at the highest level.
“There are qualities in him that I have seen in many top players I played with and played against,” said the Wanderers co-owner. “He is unflustered, calm on the ball, able to step into areas and that is a vital ingredient for any modern day centre-half now, he needs to be able to use the ball.
“Rob has got all of that, has an amazing future ahead of him, and if he listens to the right people he will achieve all that.”
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