Dominic Solanke reacts to Bournemouth star’s message as another exit confirmed
Andoni Iraola has already seen several big names leave Bournemouth for sizeable transfer fees this summer.
The Spaniard led Bournemouth to their best ever Premier League season last term, with a record points tally of 56, 58 goals scored an a ninth-placed finish which saw them go close to European qualification.
Bournemouth have lost several pillars of their impressive campaign though, with Dean Huijsen’s move to Real Madrid confirmed before the season had even ended and Kepa Arrizabalaga returning to Chelsea.
Huijsen’s £50million switch to the Bernabeu has been followed up by Liverpool signing Milos Kerkez for £40m, and those departures leave Iraola with sizeable holes to fill in defence and between the sticks.
Philip Billing confirms Bournemouth return after Napoli spell
Bournemouth’s rise up the Premier League table last season saw them climb to fifth in both December and January, and the Cherries were also busy in the winter transfer window between those periods.
Julio Soler and Zain Silcott-Duberry both made their Bournemouth debuts after signing from Lanus and Chelsea respectively, while several out-of-favour fringe players were sent out on a series of loan deals.
Philip Billing had by far the most enjoyable loan spell after his loan move to Napoli, winning the Serie A title with 10 appearances for Antonio Conte’s side and a crucial goal against runners-up Inter in March.
Napoli had a £9m option to buy Billing at the end of the season but chose not to activate this, and after his exit from Stadio Diego Armando Maradona was confirmed, the Dane posted on Instagram (30 June).
In an emotional message liked by former Cherries team-mate Dominic Solanke, Billing said: “Dear Neapolitans. I’m very proud to say I’ve represented this beautiful club.
“The memories we made, you fans cheering my name and us winning the scudetto the way we did it, is something I’ll always remember.
“To the club, my teammates and to the city.. from the bottom of my heart thank you for welcoming me the way you did from the first day I arrived. I will now always be supporting and following SSC Napoli.”
Bournemouth braced for further exits after Huijsen and Kerkez
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Kerkez‘s much-anticipated move looked an inevitability after his breakout season at the Vitality Stadium, and Bournemouth have already taken steps to fill the void at left-back by signing Rennes’ Adrien Truffert.
After being deemed surplus to requirements mid-season by Iraola, Billing could also be on the move this summer after being linked with a switch to Leeds United in the January window prior to his Napoli switch.
Leeds could do much worse than Billing after they won promotion back to the Premier League last term, but Bournemouth may be hesitant to sanction another transfer as Iraola’s squad continues to be picked apart.