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.

Photo: Action Images

ArnieM added 09:46 - Jun 13 Well it won't be used. My monies on Leeds now.
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blues1 added 09:49 - Jun 13 What he really means, is Bolton is close to Manchester so I don't have to move miles away from home. The fact Leeds also closeish to Manchester means he'll go to one or other of those 2. And I can't blame him. He's young, has got himself settled in Manchester. Be so much easier for him to acclimatise to his loan club.
6

Michael11 added 09:52 - Jun 13 Leeds or Bolton are no brainers for him really. Why would he come down all this way if he can stay within an hour of his home instead.
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CavendishBlue added 10:00 - Jun 13 I wonder if Uncle Shefki could have a word?
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BrettenhamBlue added 10:22 - Jun 13 No chance of us signing him. Next.
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BlueNomad added 11:53 - Jun 13 If he goes to one of them we probably won't know the reason. However, if I was a youngster who could stay at home and get paid the same I would choose Bolton or Leeds. I know it would be seen as a lack of ambition etc on the part of ITFC as many on here see things in such a simple, unrealistic way on the assumption that it is everyone's boyhood dream to come here.
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JimmyJazz added 12:36 - Jun 13 last year there was a lot of talk about Martin Samuelsen who eventually went to Blackburn and was never heard of again - think he only played twice for them. Would prefer someone who already has some experience playing in England
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IpswichTownNL added 14:44 - Jun 13 He spend a year in freaking Enschede. Trust me, shi*ty cities don't scare this young man.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 19:21 - Jun 13 Tell him we've got a great Norwegian supporters club (they were over with us, the Swedes, in April). - might just influence his choice. But seriously, if Leeds are in for him, we can forget it.
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bbg added 09:02 - Jun 16 we have won the race and he will sign today according to sky
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