Trabzsonspor and Galatasaray are now in a transfer battle to sign Philip Billing after Leeds United made a “serious” offer to sign him, Gunebakis reports.
According to the Turkish outlet’s website on 5 September the Danish midfielder is now subject to a race between the two Super Lig sides despite strong interest from Elland Road, with a separate Gunebakis report on 5 September indicating Trabzonspor are now in talks over a deal.
The Sun’s Alan Nixon had reported Whites interest in the 28-year-old ahead of the transfer deadline via Patreon on 27 August, but Mirror journalist David Anderson reported via X the next day that Billing had no interest in dropping down to the Championship.
Billing would likely have been a very strong addition to the Whites if he had been interested in a move to join Cherries teammate Joe Rothwell, who was successfully brought in on loan.
In his previous two seasons in the English second tier the Dane scored a combined 18 goals and laid on 14 assists, but as a regular in the Premier League in the past couple of seasons he clearly feels a European top flight is his level now.
Having made what Chris Wilder deemed to be anything a serious offer for Sheffield United star Gustavo Hamer it sounds like the Whites made a greater push to add Billing, but saw both attempts to add goalscoring midfielders fall short.
Tanaka was impressive off the bench on debut in the 2-0 over Hull City immediately after arriving but will have to go some to provide the attacking impact of the two men he arrived instead of.
Farke has been left unimpressed by the clubs failure to add a number 10 in particular despite a flurry of late signings, manifesting in the first public signs of a disconnect between the manager and the 49ers ownership [Graham Smyth, 2 September].
Bournemouth reportedly still hope Billing will stay, and if he does it would potentially keep a Leeds move on ice for next summer if interest is retained and promotion is achieved at the second attempt.
But as things stand it looks like he might be snapped up in Turkey before the Whites get a chance to come back to the table.