George Overhill

Fri 21 July 2023 7:48, UK

West Ham have approached Bournemouth for information on Danish midfielder Philip Billing, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Hammers are in major need at the position after selling captain Declan Rice to Arsenal for £105million and with doubts over the futures of both Tomas Soucek and Flynn Downes.

They have been pushing for the likes of James Ward-Prowse from Southampton and Juventus’ former Chelsea loanee Denis Zakaria, while they are some way off Fulham’s £80m valuation of Joao Palhinha, without landing any yet, and it appears they have broadened their horizons further with the 27-year-old Cherries man.

Reporting via Twitter on Friday morning (21 July) Romano wrote: “Philip Billing, attracting interest as Atalanta and also West Ham have asked for informations about Danish midfielder.

“Billing, out of contract in 2024 at Bournemouth and one to watch this summer.”

Fallback?

Time is getting on now with a huge question mark right in the centre of David Moyes’ West Ham line up, and with more than one midfielder likely needed things need to get moving.

Billing might be a reasonable option even if the Irons boss is intending to continue after the higher-priced options he is currently struggling to land.

With five international caps and 113 Premier League appearances he has decent experience, and he has scored 25 league goals from central midfield over the past three seasons.

Granted, the first two of those were in the Championship, but seven in the top flight last term might suggest he could emulate the long-missed attacking output that Soucek used to produce.

He certainly has the size and stature of a Moyes-type player and with just a year left on his contract could be a relative bargain.

If the Atalanta competition could be overcome and a deal struck with the Cherries then this one perhaps has the potential to be an under-the-radar winner.

In other West Ham news, a Chelsea replacement is wanted with three key names potential still to leave the club this summer.