Championship winners Norwich City have been linked with an interest in AFC Bournemouth midfielder Philip Billing over the past month.
There have been various reports regarding the speculation, including in British tabloid newspaper the Daily Mirror, who reported that…
“Philip Billing has emerged as a Norwich target as boss Daniel Farke prepares to reinvest funds from the sale of Emi Buendia into his squad.
Farke is a big fan of the powerful Bournemouth midfielder who, he believes, will add quality and presence to his newly promoted side.”
The report goes on to add that Billing “is valued at around £15million”, that figure to many Cherries supporters would sound on the low side considering it was less than two years ago that he made the move to the south coast for a similar fee and would still have time remaining on his current contract.
Since joining the club under former manager Eddie Howe in July 2019, Billing has been a mainstay of the Cherries midfield making 34 appearances in the Premier League during the 2019/20 season and 36 appearances in the Championship during the most recent campaign.
Between February and April 2021, Billing enjoyed somewhat of a purple patch in a more advanced number 10 role, scoring 7 goals (adding to his 1 goal from December) and claiming 4 assists. This spell coincided with the Cherries run of seven consecutive victories, however, both his and the team’s form tailed off towards the end of the season, which ultimately ended with defeat to Brentford in the Championship play-offs.
But has he featured in a Cherries shirt for the final time? AFC Bournemouth head coach Scott Parker was quick to sing the praises of the 24-year-old, but didn’t exactly throw a marker down and declare that Billing would 100% be staying at Dean Court.
Parker told the Daily Echo…
“I think it’s a conversation to be had.
“Look, I have been nothing but impressed with Phil – a player I have admired for some time when he was at Huddersfield.
“A fantastic player really. One that I love the thought of working with and feel there is still loads of improvement to come from him.
“But I get as well, he’s got big quality really – so I think we will have to see how that one pans out.
“While Phil has been first-class since I have come in here in this short space of time. He’s given me no inkling that that changes.
“But I think we all understand the situation we are in and understand the quality of player that we have on our hands here.
“When you have someone of that quality, of that ilk, you are always vulnerable to a bigger club coming.”
Your say…
Waz afcb wrote…
Sell him. Talented for sure, but he epitomises everything that has been wrong with the playing squad over the last 2 seasons. Poor attitude, poor mentality. Can look like a superstar one week and then the next week ambles around like a pedestrian. Want to see players that will fight, it’s what you need in this league to achieve consistency. – Join the conversation, click here.
