NEIL Lennon is urging Wanderers to take up a contract option on promising defender Rob Holding.

The 20-year-old, who was subject to a £400,000 bid from Reading last month, sees his deal expire in the summer.

But Lennon has revealed that the Whites have first option on renewing that contract – and warned that time is ticking down before he gets the chance to sign elsewhere.

“We have an option on Rob, in terms of a contract, so I will be highly recommending that we take up that option and offer him something,” he told The Bolton News.

“Rob Holding has been a superstar for me. I think he has had real quality.

“Every game he seems to be growing in maturity and improving in performance.

“I think he’s happy here. But there is no doubt that there are suitors out there watching this very closely at the minute.

“We have to let him know that we would take the option up and I would highly recommend to anyone that we do. He has been excellent.”

Holding first got his chance in the side because of an injury to David Wheater but has belied his lack of first-team experience to become the most consistent member of the back four in recent weeks.

Lennon believes the Tameside-born defender is a real asset to the club.

“It’s great, we found another one. He’s another who will be worth money to the club,” he said.

“That’s three or four we have had through the academy in the last 18 months, and I’m not too sure many other clubs can say that.

“All of a sudden, despite not seeing it in previous years, we are starting to see the fruits of the academy.

“They are genuine quality players too. If you look at Zach (Clough), Rob, Josh Vela, and we are hoping Tom Walker will come through to join that group as well.

“He has been a bit of a slow burner but he’s definitely got talent and ability and we hope there will be more down the line.

“It isn’t as easy as just putting players through. The percentage isn’t always great. But we are in a position where we give young players an opportunity.

“Necessity has been the mother of invention but I have to say that Zach and Rob are genuine quality and I think they would have come through anyway because they have the tools.”

Holding is likely to be partnered by another young defender in Derik Osede this afternoon, as Dorian Dervite stands to miss up to six weeks with a knee injury that requires minor surgery.

The Spanish defender has been used as a makeshift full-back for the last couple of weeks and his performances have convinced Lennon that he is starting to settle down in the English game.

“We brought Derik in because he was cheap, a free, and had that genuine pedigree from Real Madrid,” the manager said.

“It took him a while to settle but he looks more like himself now. I think he needs to adjust to the physicality of the game because as a centre-half he is quite slight. He wouldn’t be what you call a dominant one.

“But he can play anywhere across the back four and I think he will be a very good player for the club. I think he’ll be worth a few quid once he settles down and finds his game.”

Tom Walker has also followed Clough, Vela, Holding and Co through the academy set-up but he is yet to take root in the first team.

Lennon hopes that will change before the end of the season.

“Tom has been on the periphery but he’s a bit of an enigma,” he said. “He has definitely got the ability but it’s trying to put it all together. He has definitely got it in him.

“I still feel he’s got something to contribute between now and the end of the season. There is no question he has got good ability but it’s just parts of his game are inconsistent and he’s maybe not ready to come in and play just yet.

“If things had been different in the league situation we might have said ‘there you go, here’s your chance,’ but it hasn’t been easy to do that.

“I would imagine you’ll see Tom in the first team between now and the end of the season.”