1st signing close: Manager expect deal for Arsenal target Rob Holding to be completed this week

Bolton Wanderers caretaker boss Jimmy Phillips expects the club to sell Arsenal target Rob Holding, the North London giants have been hugely tipped to land the talented defender as premier league rivals Everton and Bournemouth are also said to be interested in the 20 year old.

The boss was told not to select the defender for the season’s penultimate game at Fulham because the club is expected to sell the centre back in the coming week.

The caretaker boss, Phillips speaking about the decision not to play Holding he said”I was asked by the board of directors not to play him yesterday,” Phillips said.

“It would appear some clubs are interested in him somewhere down the line. I think the wheels are still in motion on that one and it’ll be a few days before we get an outcome.

“If the deal goes ahead and the money is used to improve the squad as a whole then we can judge then whether it was a positive outcome.”
Bolton value the defender at around £5 million but Arsenal are looking to secure a deal closer to the region of £2 million as Holding has just one year left on his contract.