BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: Philip Billing of AFC Bournemouth scores his sides third penalty in the shootout during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between AFC Bournemouth and Crystal Palace at Vitality Stadium on September 15, 2020 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Neil Hall - Pool/Getty Images)
According to the Sun, Newcastle United have been credited with an interest in Bournemouth midfielder Philip Billing as Steve Bruce looks to set the ball rolling in the January window.
As per the report, the Magpies are trying to orchestrate a potential swap deal with the Championship outfit that would see Billing move to Tyneside and Matt Ritchie go the other way round to the south coast.
It has been claimed that Bournemouth have a long-standing interest in bringing Ritchie back to the Vitality Stadium and could make Billing available to make a deal happen before the end of this month.
Philip Billing initially moved to England with Huddersfield Town in 2013 from his boyhood club Esbjerg in Denmark. After impressing for the U-18s and U-23s, the midfielder made his first-team debut for the Terriers in the Championship during the 2013-14 season.
The 1-cap Danish international gradually established himself in a more prominent role in Huddersfield’s first-team. He featured 24 times in the Championship in 2016-17 as the Yorkshire outfit won promotion to the Premier League. Billing played 43 times for the Terriers in the top-flight over two seasons, earning rave reviews for his development.
Following Huddersfield’s relegation to the second-tier in 2019, the 24-year-old was offered an escape route by Bournemouth to stay in the Premier League. Billing made 34 appearances in the league last season and was one of the shining lights of a calamitous campaign that culminated in the Cherries suffering relegation to the Championship.
With Jason Tindall taking over the reins at Bournemouth this season, Billing has slipped down the pecking order in the Championship. The Dane has started just 10 league fixtures out of a possible 25, fuelling speculations over his future at the club.
In truth, Newcastle aren’t really short of options in the middle of the park. The Magpies roped in Jeff Hendrick on a free transfer in the summer to bolster their midfield cavalry.
With Sean Longstaff, Jonjoe Shelvey, Matty Longstaff and Isaac Hayden all competing for places, Steve Bruce is more than well-stocked in that department.
Having said that, however, the team’s lack of authority in midfield has been earmarked as one of the major reasons behind their lacklustre form in the Premier League this season.
The Magpies have been lacking that bite and X-factor in the middle needed to keep the opposition at bay. Shelvey and Hayden have somewhat tailed off while Sean Longstaff has failed to hit the heights that his early potential indicated. Hendrick started off on a bright note but has offered very little over the past couple of months.
Putting things into perspective, Newcastle need some upgrades in the midfield and Philip Billing ticks the boxes to come through at St. James’ Park. The Danish international fits the mould of a quality all-action tough-tackling defensive midfielder capable of shielding the backline with his physicality and work rate.
With Newcastle’s midfield lacking enough substance this season, Billing’s qualities could make him a useful addition to Bruce’s ranks. He also has a fair bit of experience in the PL, having played 77 times in the top-flight for Bournemouth and Huddersfield.
Having said that, the Dane would represent a real coup for the Magpies considering that he still has room for development at 24. Ritchie, meanwhile, boasts an excellent track record in the Championship and would be a welcome addition to Bournemouth’s ranks as they strive for automatic promotion.
Hence, Newcastle and Bournemouth completing this swap deal would be a win-win for all parties involved.