TWTD understands that Town are close to confirming the return of Bersant Celina on loan.

TWTD revealed at the start of July that the Blues were targeting the former loanee, who is currently with French second division side Dijon, having moved there from Swansea in September last year.

Town had held protracted talks with the forward, who previously spent 2017/18 on loan at Portman Road from Manchester City, scoring eight times in 26 starts and 12 sub appearances, while a number of other clubs, understood to include Championship Hull City and Coventry City, as well as sides in the Dutch top flight, were also keen.

The chances of the move happening looked over when Celina developed the heart infection pericarditis in late July having contracted Covid a month earlier.

However, a fortnight ago his cardiologist gave the 24-year-old the all-clear to return to training in a few weeks’ time.

We understand the deal, Town’s 17th signing of the summer, is expected to be completed as soon as today with the transfer window set to close at 11pm tomorrow.

The Blues were initially looking at doing a permanent deal but ultimately a loan switch for the season has been agreed.

Kosovo-born 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 spent time with 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 as Les Hiboux were relegated from Ligue 1 having finished bottom.

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

Photo: Matchday Images

Europablue added 13:10 - Aug 30 Cheshire_Blue From where I sit the signs look good. Positive attacking and entertaining football with a weakness of defensive frailty identified and players brought in already to solve the problem. The other problem being that the players need to get used to playing together and that will come over time.
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Dissboyitfc added 13:10 - Aug 30 Wickwar... Both Jim and McCarthy had plenty of slack, especially the latter in his first 2/3 years i can remember the whole crowd singing super mick mccarthy, its only when he turned on the fans with his arrogance about never changing a team if the supporters call for a sub then there was the abusive gesture and think about it, that was only going to end one way! Blues1... had to mark you down because you will find signing on fees are included in the 60% figure allowed on players wages! Also whilst not over keen on loan players, i think they make a lot more sense in our position now, firstly its possible parent clubs maybe paying part of the wages, helps in the ffp. secondly if some of these loans are successful and we are successful they could become permanent signings, win win.

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ImAbeliever added 13:28 - Aug 30 So probably could be able to play by mid/end October? Will we se him before Edmundson?
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Bergholtblue added 13:31 - Aug 30 If this had been anyone else I would be moaning about the short-termism of loan players and how this has a ring of the past managers to it, i.e. having to get loanees in to replace their permanent signings who haven't hit the mark yet. However, in this case this is a good move. We wanted him on a permanent deal before his heart problem was diagnosed. This way we can monitor his progress and if all is clear as his specialist says, then we can make it permanent next year.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 13:39 - Aug 30 I wish the boy well and a fit and functioning Celina would no doubt be a big asset. BUT, he was given the go-ahead two weeks ago to start training "in a few weeks' time." Are we likely to see him in action before Christmas? Given the choice between a tough midfielder ready to go into the team next match and Celina, I'd definitely prioritise the former. On the other hand, it we get both, happy days!

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itfcserbia added 13:40 - Aug 30 Thanks Steve, reasonable as always. I got -20 for voicing that in a bit different manner lol
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Esseeja added 13:41 - Aug 30 he faded away nearer the end of his loan. After his goal against Leeds he looked finished for the season for me but if he can peak then unbelievable pull this.
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Bazza8564 added 13:43 - Aug 30 Bergholtblue makes a good point about loans, but this close to the end of the window its much easier to do a loan deal with a club, then sort out the terms of a purchase quietly with the club afterwards. Clearly Barry wont be staying, but I'd not be surprised to see some of these crystalise in January. The thing that Im interested in is how many will be on their way out, we now have Jackson, Kenlock, Nolan, Holy surplus to requirements. Maybe even Norwood? But im not sure (bar Hladky who is clearly struggling for confidence) about the comment re replacing permanent signings who havent hit the mark yet. If we assume we will have 2-3 players nursing knocks or suspensions at any one time and can name 7 substitutes, 11 starters thats a squad requirement of 20-21, which is pretty much what we will have assuming a few do loan out. Everybody knows the results havent come yet and im not going to get into the moaners yet again, but it feels, assuming we shunt 3-4 out who wont be involved, about right.

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Steelmonkey added 13:56 - Aug 30 blues1 I've never been one to say I know it all and I appreciate being educated by those that do, just googled this. People also ask Can you sell a player on loan? Yes of course you can, as long as you get more money from the transfer fee for the player than you spend on recalling him then you'll be in profit. I'm never surprised at the outcome of things in football or life in general as someone somewhere will find a loophole to make things happen the way they want.

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arablue added 14:16 - Aug 30 Celina will make this team better. Always good to have more flair players....errr it was not long ago when the cry for flair and creativity were so so loud in this site. Now that we have few came in, some still complained. Tsk tsk tsk. Plus, it is a long season and we could not legislate for injury. Make sense to have the likes of Celina, Chaplin, Fraser and Edwards in the team.

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blues1 added 15:21 - Aug 30 Steelmonnkey.. You cannot recall some1 on a season long loan. Not in the same window that hes gone out on loan. So they could do so in January if they wanted to sell him, yes, as long as all parties agree. As bonne would need to agree to be sold to another club.
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blues1 added 15:27 - Aug 30 Dissboy. No..dont think you'll find that signing on fees are part of the wage bill. Come under the transfer fee. Not the wages. As signing on fees are included as part of a transfer fee for a player. If a free transfer then they are instead of a transfer fee. For eg. Milner got a £15m signing on fee when he signed for Liverpool. I think also tho, that players will be signing for lower wages bcse theyre likely being told their wages will increase substantially when /if we get promoted.

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SickParrot added 16:10 - Aug 30 Celina should be outstanding at League 1 level when he is fit but that could be a month away. To benefit from flair players like Bersant we must first sign a midfield enforcer to plug the gap in front of the centre backs.
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Bert added 17:11 - Aug 30 A definite crowd pleaser and he has goals in him from outside the box. Very pleased to see this happening. If the defence does not get its act together soon, Cook will have to rethink his formation and drop a few who keep losing possession. Dare I say it but we do need a blocker.... like Skuse but more able to move forward as well.
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JewellintheTown added 18:10 - Aug 30 I think some who think bringing Celina in isn't needed have become spoilt. We'd have loved to have kept him when in the Championship, so not sure why we'd think not in league 1.
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Gforce added 18:11 - Aug 30 Blue warrior.......Top post !!
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Monkey_Blue added 19:02 - Aug 30 Wooly74 who gave you control of what opinion people should have? Telling people who disagree with you to support another team is pathetic. I disagree vehemently with many on here but never doubt their desire fir the club to be successful. Accept people disagree on subjective issues and if you don't know what subjective means by a thesaurus
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Dissboyitfc added 19:31 - Aug 30 Blues1 firstly FFP rules are different for premier league teams compared to the restrictions facing efl teams, so the James Milner situation is not applicable! secondly FFP was brought in to prevent clubs spending over their limits! What would be the point of these rules if a club wants to stay within the rules but can pay a player a paltry amount in his monthly wage, yet can pay him millions in a signing on fee and top his wages up that way. Do you really think that such a loophole would exist?

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Dog added 19:38 - Aug 30 Not for me thanks. Anyone who has had covid or pericarditis will know that it takes weeks/months to recover. He has had no pre-season and has not trained at all. He would have been good at this level pre pericarditis and covid but fear it is just a waste of money for this season. Suggest those that don't know what pericarditis is look it up. I know three people hospitalised all in last four months with it following covid or jab.

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algarvefan added 19:44 - Aug 30 God some people on here are so negative about everything! Is this not worth a punt? Is the lad normally top quality? Either it works or it won't , it won't define our season. Cheer up folks!
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Saxonblue74 added 21:10 - Aug 30 Yes algarve, most definitely worth a punt. May even be seen as a luxury, but isn't it nice that we can? Isn't it even nice that it doesn't matter if it turns out to be the "waste of money" that some think it may be? We're actually quite a wealthy cub these days!
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PinstripeBlue added 21:23 - Aug 30 I've not read any of the posts. I try not to. I believe Bersant will be good for us. I saw the goal against Leeds at PR. 1-0 to the towen.
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Wooly74 added 06:53 - Aug 31 Monkey blue you are exactly the stereotype I am referring too, quite pathetic frankly and as others have said no doubt a yellow belly in disguise merely trying to have your fun on this ITFC forum. Go watch you own team yo-yo 🪀 it's way once again back to the championship xx
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Linkboy13 added 10:44 - Aug 31 If all loan players play like Coulson and Bonne let's have more. Give them a three year contract and there in the comfort zone.
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