WANDERERS face continued pressure to cash-in on top prospect Luca Connell despite the close of the transfer window.

The 17-year-old limped out of Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Preston North End with a calf strain but is now subject to serious interest from Premier League Brighton and Burnley.

A bid of £300,000 is rumoured to have been made by Chris Hughton’s Albion, who also had two attempts to sign the versatile midfielder turned down before deadline day.

Connell is currently in the last six months of a second-year scholar contract so would be able to move outside the window if Bolton accepted a bid, albeit he would not be allowed to play first team football until next season.

Wanderers would be due compensation if he chose to move in the summer but with the short-term financial situation at the club looking increasingly grim, the prospect of raising quick money with a sale could be preferable.

Connell has made a big impact since being fast-tracked into the first team in January and Bolton have made attempts to tie him down to a longer contract, thus far without success.

Phil Parkinson said the physical demands placed on the youngster in recent weeks may have been a contributing factor to the injury which forced him off the pitch against Preston.

Connell looks unlikely to face Birmingham City tomorrow night – but Wanderers could welcome back defender Mark Beevers after he returned to training after an Achilles problem.

“It is a shame for Luca but he has been absolutely outstanding,” Parkinson said.

“His performance at Sheffield United was top drawer but the demands of training at first team level and playing in a high-energy local derby like that are difficult at times.

“We will get him patched up and get him ready sooner rather than later.”

Jonathan Grounds will be unavailable to play against his parent club, and with Andy Taylor also nursing an injury Bolton could turn to loanee Callum Connolly on the left side of defence.

“Callum did great when he went to left-back,” Parkinson noted on Saturday. “Groundsy knows he was off the pace and got exposed by a very good player in Tom Barkhuizen.”