ROB Holding’s future shot to the top of Neil Lennon's priority list.

The young Wanderers defender is out of contract in the summer but has impressed since cementing his place as a regular starter in recent weeks.

And though the Whites’ financial problems have meant players' contracts have been pushed onto the backburner for now – Lennon is urging the club to make a special effort to get Holding tied down quickly.

“I want that sorted if possible,” he told The Bolton News. “You want to work with these players and develop them for as long as you can.

“Rob is only in his infancy but he has shown plenty of potential and I’m really pleased with the progress he’s made so far.

“I am sure there will be interest in him because of his performances in the last few weeks.”

It is understood a clutch of Championship sides are monitoring Holding’s situation with a view to signing him in the summer.

The contracts of other first teamers such as Liam Feeney, Paul Rachubka, Neil Danns, Emile Heskey, Stephen Dobbie, David Wheater and Tom Walker also expire at the end of the current campaign.

Wanderers face losing another academy star in striker Alex Samizadeh, who has trained with Derby County and would be able to move to the Rams for compensation as he has yet to sign a professional deal.

The 17-year-old has caused some consternation by openly advertising his time with the Rams on social media but Lennon is unaware of an impending move.

“As far as I know he went there for Derby to have a look at him,” he said.

“We would get compensation I would imagine, and we did offer him a contract a month or two ago but that got turned down.”

Wanderers agreed a severance package with full-back Jose Manuel Casado yesterday, which saw the Spaniard depart the Macron after playing just nine times.

It is understood that while Casado was not one of the higher earners in the squad, his contract included a large appearance bonus.

The 29-year-old is expected to return to Spain having failed to feature since December when he was sent off playing against Cardiff City.