Leeds United have emerged as a third contender to sign Manchester City youngster Bersant Celina on loan, alongside the Blues and Bolton Wanderers.
Speaking to Norwegian broadcaster NRK having played for Kosovo’s U21s in a 5-0 defeat to Norway yesterday, Celina confirmed he would be going out on loan for 2017/18: "The plan is to play in the Championship. I'm going to try to find a club there."
Leeds, Town and Bolton are cited as the clubs he could potentially join and the 20-year-old adds: "It will be one of them. Then we'll see.”
News that the Blues are targeting Celina first emerged last Thursday with Bolton understood to be the favourites to make the signing.
The winger, who lived in Norway from the age of two and won caps at U15, U16, U17 and U21 levels before switching allegiance to Kosovo, has already held talks with Trotters manager Phil Parkinson and been given a tour of the Macron Stadium, while Town’s interest is yet to progress that far.
"I know that Bolton are keen on signing me,” he told to Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten last week. "But we’ll just have to wait and see what happens, there are other interested clubs as well.
"But I think Bolton would be a good club for me. It’s a club that belongs in the Championship or Premier League.”
Celina, who joined Manchester City from Norwegian club Strømsgodset as a 15-year-old, spent 2016/17 on loan with Dutch side FC Twente, scoring five times and picking up five assists in 27 appearances. Twente are said to keen for him to return next season.
Capped six times by Kosovo at full level, scoring once, Prizren-born Celina has made one Premier League sub appearance for City - the final five minutes of a January 2016 3-0 win at Norwich - in addition to two starts and one game from the bench in the FA Cup.