A number of Newcastle United supporters have been reacting to transfer reports claiming that the Magpies are considering a potential swap deal with Bournemouth which would see Philip Billing and Matt Ritchie switch clubs.
Steve Bruce’s side are in desperate need of reinforcements to try and turn things around after their 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday made it eight Premier League games without a win. The Magpies have no money to spend but they have been interested in adding to their midfield, forcing them to consider either loan moves or potential swap deals.
Billing has made 16 Championship appearances for Bournemouth so far this season, but he was left out of the squad for their defeat against Derby County last Tuesday and later questioned reports suggesting that he had missed out through injury. Cherries manager Jason Tindall tried to clear things up, suggesting that he thought the Denmark international was carrying a hamstring problem.
That has fuelled speculation around his potential future and the midfielder is now reportedly a target for the Magpies, with Newcastle willing to allow Ritchie to head back to Bournemouth in the other direction. The versatile Scotland international has not been a regular starter this term, but has occasionally provided cover at full-back. The news was shared by @NUFC360 on Twitter.
Newcastle United are ready to send Matt Ritchie to Bournemouth in a swap deal for midfielder Phillip Billing. #nufc [Alan Nixon]
— NUFC360 (@NUFC360) January 23, 2021
Newcastle fans react to potential Billing and Ritchie swap deal
Many Newcastle fans have urged the Magpies not to proceed with swap deal, believing that Billing lacks the quality or attributes needed to improve the midfield. Some also suggested that they need Ritchie’s battling qualities given their precarious standing in the Premier League table.
Sums the club up. Need to spend some cash on a proven quality midfielder who can get us up the pitch and what do we come up with? A championship player who's basically similar to Hayden.
— John (@j8hnj) January 23, 2021
Need players like Ritchie in a relegation battle. Billing is a less talented version of Shelvey. #NUFC
— Football fanatic (@TipsterC) January 24, 2021
What is our obsession with Bournemouth
— la esponja (@callumdfish) January 23, 2021
https://twitter.com/KyleUtterson4/status/1353112110646046722?s=19
I’m not sure Billing is the answer to our problems, however we need some sort of presence in the centre of the park & I don’t think he’s a bad player. About right for the circles we are now mixing in as a football club.
— Andy Burn (@AndyBurn10) January 23, 2021
We seem very keen to bring in previously relegated players into our relegation fight.
— Zachet (@TheZachet) January 23, 2021
can we just stop with all this Bournemouth stuff, it's getting ridiculous now https://t.co/S9JCXBKhol
— mikah (@maaaasassaa) January 24, 2021
If this is true, this shows just how muddled #nufc’s thinking and planning is. Eight months ago Ritchie signed a new contract, one of the few contract extensions agreed under Bruce, and now we’ve decided he’s surplus to requirements. https://t.co/S1UiimQfT7
— Ralph Blackburn (@RalphBlackburn) January 24, 2021
