TWTD understands the Blues are targeting the return to Portman Road of former loanee Bersant Celina.

The 24-year-old is currently with French side Dijon, who were relegated from Ligue 1 in 2020/21 after finishing bottom of the table.

Celina spent 2017/18 on loan with the Blues from Manchester City, making 26 starts and 12 sub appearances, scoring eight times, in a successful spell under Mick McCarthy’s management.

Now, we understand Town are making an attempt to lure Celina back to Portman Road ahead of the 2021/22 campaign although with other clubs also showing interest.

Persuading the Kosovo international to make a move into League One would be a big coup for the Blues but is illustrative of the ambition of the club under the new ownership and manager Paul Cook.

Celina moved to Norway with his family aged two and was a youth player with Strømsgodset before joining Manchester City’s academy in 2012.

In 2016/17 he joined FC Twente in the Netherlands on loan, then moved to Town on the same basis the following season.

Celina left City for Swansea in the summer of 2018 for £3 million - having made one senior start and three sub appearances for the Citizens - and went on to make 65 starts and 14 sub appearances for the Swans, scoring 10 times, before being sold to Dijon for a reported £2.7 million in September 2020, signing a four-year contract.

During 2020/21, 5ft 11in tall Celina made 26 starts and seven sub appearances in all competitions for Dijon without finding the net.

Capped by Norway at U16, U17 and U21 levels, Celina subsequently switched allegiance to his native Kosovo for whom he has played U21 and senior games. He has now taken his full caps total to 29, scoring twice.

Meanwhile, former Blues forward Martyn Waghorn has joined Championship Coventry City following his release by Derby County. The 31-year-old has signed a two-year deal.

Photo: Action Images

Paddy39 added 11:25 - Jul 3 When we talk about some returning players they are generally of recent time has beens (excluding Murphy & Lee of course) who are here for a nice old wage to send them on their way. However Celina would be a different kettle of fish he is still young and has plenty of skill and more to show under Cookie. IMO he was brilliant when we first got him from City and I believe he is another part of the jigsaw that Cooky needs. COYB's can't wait for the season to start, let's hope we are all back in the ground.

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Razor added 11:39 - Jul 3 Him and Charlie Wyke----that would get me excited!!
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blues1 added 12:09 - Jul 3 Jas1972. Yes, but john wark is an exception to the rule. Cant think of any other player who's succeeded on their return to the club. This is a signing g though that I'd really like us to make. Frankly tho, cannot see it happening as cant see how we could afford his wages. Cant aee him dropping down to what we are allowed to pay due to the ffp. Tho maybe could get around that by paying a massive signing on fee.

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Dissboyitfc added 12:30 - Jul 3 Blues1 Datyl Murray!
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KernewekBlue added 12:44 - Jul 3 Datyl Murray? Who is he and where does he play? If he's any good, sign him up! ;)
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Dissboyitfc added 12:47 - Jul 3 Blues1 Tommy Miller had a successful return as well!
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Dissboyitfc added 13:50 - Jul 3 Murphy fat fingers and predictive txt lol
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TimmyH added 13:57 - Jul 3 Would be a good acquisition at this level but I have my doubts we will get him, must be clubs at a higher level looking at him.
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d77sgw added 15:13 - Jul 3 . In the 40 years I've been following town the number of players who have come back is not that many I would say it's: Wark (twice - a bloody legend) Swailes (could have been worse) Miller (excellent) Dozzell Scowy Ambrose (fairly average the three of them, but the last 2 went on to do well at other clubs) Murphy (very good) Pablo (pretty good) I may have missed one or two. I don't think we can say that is demonstrative of it generally a bad idea to go back. On the other hand there is a recent record of loanees we've signed on the basis of stellar performance on loan then proving bad perm signings (Bullard and Huws I think)

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grumpyoldman added 15:35 - Jul 3 Blueboy81 how about telling that to Ray Crawford or John Wark you muppet.
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sweetguytom added 15:50 - Jul 3 Marinersnose Connelly signed for Blackpool would of been good oh well if we get celina that would still be amazing
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Monkey_Blue added 15:53 - Jul 3 The idea just because he's played for us before he would be a bad signing is akin to any other superstitious nonsense. It's a phrase, it's not based on anything. It's like praying, lots of people swear by it but it's a useless idea. My only concern would be if we paid him significantly more than other senior players, not just for team morale but wage cap reasons. If he was keen to come and determined to be a success, from a football point of view it would be exciting.

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Monkey_Blue added 15:55 - Jul 3 Does anyone know if signing on fees count towards the wage cap? I assume they do because clubs would abuse that loophole but, to assume can make an ASS out of U & ME
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 15:59 - Jul 3 Oh, I would love that. He was great when he was here, very exciting to watch.
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FromIpswichToPhoenix added 17:47 - Jul 3 Excited but not optimistic....
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Bazza8564 added 18:10 - Jul 3 My understanding is that signing on fees are not wages so you can hide them within a package, but i could be wrong, wife tells me I often am....
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bluesteel added 22:01 - Jul 3 How happy would Celina be having to drop down into League One? Are we still in the business of improving other peoples players so we can't afford them?
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Bert added 22:23 - Jul 3 Imagination, flair and skill so yes in a heartbeat but unless our investors see him as an investment to bring back lost supporters I cannot see us meeting his wage demands.
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aas1010 added 02:03 - Jul 4 Celina and Tom Lawrence ???
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bigolconnor added 10:20 - Jul 4 According to salarysport.com he earns £21,000 a week at Dijon although, as they got relegated that probably dropped. Maybe we could get him for £12,000 with a big increase clause should we get promoted. It could happen.
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Dissboyitfc added 10:32 - Jul 4 Bazza the signing on fee is included in wages
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brendenward35 added 10:45 - Jul 4 Not sure where this story came from but need to be realistic. 3 years left on his contract, 21k a week wages and drop down to league 1 I just can't see Town pulling this one off. Believe this when he walks in the doors for medical
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greenkingtone added 12:18 - Jul 4 Its a pipe dream I"m afraid lads.
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blueboy1981 added 13:08 - Jul 4 grumpyoldman - and YOU, cut the name calling ok !! Entitled to my opinion, as much as you are yours. Unless you are capable of proving I am a Muppet - DON't ever call me one ... !!!
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Town4me added 19:31 - Jul 4 Is this deal not done yet?! It's been too story for the last 3 days!
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