Transfer Centre

Newcastle United to swap Matt Ritchie with Bournemouth's Philip Billing?

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 24 January 2021

Newcastle United are reportedly weighing up a possible swap deal that would involve winger Matt Ritchie and Bournemouth midfielder Philip Billing.

Steve Bruce's side are keen to bolster their central midfield options and have identified Billing as a target in the January transfer window.

The Sun reports that Bournemouth are keen to bring back Ritchie, who left the club to join the Magpies in 2016, and may be willing to allow Billing to head in the opposite direction.

Ritchie, 31, has failed to keep his starting place at left-back since the arrival of Jamal Lewis from Norwich City last summer and may feel that now is the right time to move on and play regularly elsewhere.

Billing, who has one senior cap for Denmark, would be interested in a return to the Premier League and, like Ritchie, is weighing up his options as to whether to leave the club this month or wait until the summer.

The 24-year-old has made 16 appearances for Bournemouth in the Championship this season, while Ritchie has featured only eight times in the top flight, although he has suffered with a shoulder injury for much of the 2020-21 campaign.