Bournemouth loaned out midfielder Philip Billing to Napoli in the January transfer window.
The surprise move went through quite quickly and the Cherries added an option to buy in the deal, despite Billing having played only 176 minutes in the Premier League this season.
The Dane did take some time in getting into a rhythm at Napoli but he has now made three Serie A appearances and also scored a vital goal for Antonio Conte’s side against Inter some weeks ago.
It now seems as if his exit from Bournemouth will take place permanently.
Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli journalist Valter de Maggio, as relayed by TuttoNapoli, has told Radio Goal that Napoli will trigger their option to buy.
He said: “Napoli has decided to redeem Billing by paying €9m. Instead, Cheddira and Simeone will be sold, as well as Folorunsho.”
A fee of €9m (£7.5m) will be very handy for Bournemouth, considering the fact that Billing had arrived from Huddersfield Town in 2019 for a fee of £15m and wasn’t an important part of Andoni Iraola’s side this season.
They have managed to get five very reliable seasons from the 28-year-old and he was a key part of the side when the South Coast club earned promotion to the Premier League in 2022. In a way, they have moved the midfielder on at the right time.
