Ipswich Town dealt big Philip Billing blow as £5m AFC Bournemouth exit imminent | OneFootball

Ipswich Town were heavily linked with the Bournemouth midfielder.

Ipswich Town look set to miss out on AFC Bournemouth midfielder Philip Billing, with FC Midtjylland in advanced talks over a £5m deal.

The Tractor Boys are yet to taste victory on their return to the Championship, with stalemates against Birmingham City and Southampton preceding a defeat against Preston North End at Deepdale on Saturday.

Kieran McKenna and Co. have padded out their squad in recent weeks but may have to identify another midfield target following recent developments should they wish to bolster their options in the middle of the park ahead of the 1 September transfer deadline.

Ipswich Town set to lose out in the race for Philip Billing as Bournemouth exit close

It was revealed by TEAMtalk earlier this week that Ipswich had enquired about the 29-year-old’s services, with Billing free to leave Bournemouth this summer.

Journalist Gianluca Di Marzio added that Sheffield United were also interested in a move for the midfielder, going on to state that the Cherries wanted a fee in the region of £8.6 million.

However, it seems like neither Championship club will enjoy the honour of acquiring Billing’s services.

According to Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam via X on Sunday, Danish side FC Midtjylland are in 'advanced talks' with Bournemouth over a move for the former Huddersfield Town man.

The package being discussed is a permanent switch worth around £5m in total, which differs from the loan deal Ipswich Town were reportedly pursuing.

Moving to FC Midtjylland provides Billing with an opportunity to play in his home nation of Denmark for the first time professionally, and potentially bolster his chances of being selected in Denmark's 2026 World Cup squad - should they qualify.

The central midfielder spent the second half of last season on loan at Italian side Napoli, who went on to clinch the Serie A title during Billing’s time at the club.

Philip Billing transfer is a big missed opportunity for Ipswich Town

On paper, Ipswich Town possess one of, if not the strongest squads in the Championship, but have struggled during the opening stanza of the 2025/26 campaign.

Failing to score a victory so far will be concerning for McKenna, especially as the Tractor Boys have netted just twice during their opening three games.

Billing could’ve added an extra element to the Ipswich midfield and, when paired with Jens Cajuste, would’ve played an important role in one of the division’s strongest engine rooms.

Vast experience at the top-flight level, which includes title-winning credentials following his recent spell in Italy, would’ve been a tremendous asset for McKenna to harness.

However, it now seems like the Tractor Boys are set to miss out on the 29-year-old.

Perhaps their willingness to acquire Billing on a temporary basis didn’t please Bournemouth, and when another suitor lodged a permanent offer, the Cherries had an easy decision to make.