ARSENAL should wrap up the signing of Wanderers defender Rob Holding today, The Bolton News understands.

After weeks of negotiation the two parties have now struck a deal for the 20-year-old centre-half which is believed to be worth in excess of £2million up front, with significant bonuses based on future club and international appearances.

Two other Premier League clubs missed out after making late bids but Holding was keen on the Emirates since their first bid of just £750,000 was made in early May.

The England Under-21 international made just 30 appearances in a Bolton shirt, making his debut less than a year ago in a Capital One Cup defeat to Burton Albion.

In that time his career sky-rocketed, culminating in an international call-up in the summer from Gareth Southgate for the Toulon Tournament.

Holding becomes Arsenal’s third signing of the summer, following Granit Xhaka and Takuma Asano.

After a request to loan Holding for the season was turned down, Phil Parkinson now turns his attention to replacing the academy graduate and seems to have two options at his immediate disposal.

Gordon Greer, the experienced Scotland international who left Brighton at the end of last season, has been invited in for a trial.

Though aged 35, Greer is looking to prolong his career for club and country and is thought to have impressed the Wanderers staff.

David Wheater is also looking to earn a new deal, having trained with the club for the last week.

The 29-year-old featured for half an hour in Saturday’s friendly defeat at Mansfield where Parkinson confirmed he was interested in offering him a deal.

Other clubs have enquired about Wheater this summer, however, which has delayed the process. The Whites are keen to get the situation rectified well in advance of the season-opener against Sheffield United.

Meanwhile, Crewe Alexandra have reduced entrance prices for Friday night’s friendly by half after Wanderers’ announcement that it will no longer be classified as a first-team game.

Tickets will now be £4 for adults, £3 concessions and juniors will be one pound.

Wanderers face York City at Bootham Crescent on Saturday.