Bersant Celina has revealed his desire to remain an Ipswich player after his season-long loan from French club Dijon expires in the summer.

And the Kosovan international, who is in his second temporary stint at Portman Road, says he will feel the same even if Town’s promotion dream is not realised during what remains of the current campaign.

Asked about his future, 25-year-old Celina said: “I just want this club to get promoted and I’ll come here. Hopefully, that’s my goal. I want to come back to England to play my football and especially here at Ipswich.

“It doesn’t mean we have to win promotion for that to happen but it’s obviously what we want. If it doesn’t happen this season, with the manager we have now I would expect it to happen next season.

“I have played a lot of games for this club and there is a strong connection between us. I really feel at home here and I’m enjoying it. I’m happy, which is always important, and we are doing our very best to bring success to the club.”

Celina joined Dijon in September 2020 and signed a four-year contract, so if he is to return to Town a transfer fee will have to be agreed between the two clubs.

Presumably, with Dijon being relegated to Ligue 2 last season, they might be willing to part company with the player and his wages.

Equally, if Town secure promotion back to the Championship, it would provide a financial boost and with it leverage for them in any negotiations, although the new owners have underlined their ambition to succeed and would probably be keen on a deal even if they are still in League One next term.

Certainly, the majority of Town supporters would be keen for Celina to sign permanently. He is one of the front-runners for the Player of the Year accolade after scoring five goals in his 25 league appearances this season, eight of them from the bench, while he has also provided several assists for others to find the net.

Meanwhile, Town’s play-off hopes will be boosted if they can secure victory at fourth-placed Oxford United on Saturday. The ninth-placed Blues are six points adrift of Sunderland in sixth and trail Oxford by eight, so all three points are likely to be required if they are to have any chance of closing the gap.

Celina added: “We definitely are confident and we believe in ourselves. We know we have to win a lot of our remaining games but we also know that other teams, our rivals for the play-off places, will drop points as well. We must do our best and hopefully we will be there.

“It is an exciting time for everyone at the club and of course our supporters. We have been working hard in training and playing well in games, while one thing we don’t lack is belief.”

Photo: TWTD

Schmoke added 18:50 - Mar 17 I love you too Bersant.
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DavoIPB added 18:50 - Mar 17 This would be brilliant. One of our most exciting players. Has also developed under MK. Greater consistency.
18

WhoisJimmyJuan added 18:53 - Mar 17 Even if this went down the Daryl Murphy route of a succession of loan spells before finally securing the permanent deal I would be happy. The will is clearly there so the way will follow. A town legend in the making.
15

NthQldITFC added 19:05 - Mar 17 Please make this happen, Gamechanger. Yes.
17

BlueRuin69 added 19:07 - Mar 17 Everybody wants to be part of Itfc, Yes please get this done. Celena brilliant already will, like every other player, improve under Mckenna. Good to be a blue atm. Coyb
12

tempzzzz added 19:34 - Mar 17 This would be the best signing we could make in the summer. Fantastic player and clearly enjoys working under KM as they all do. Even better I can re-use my shirt next season which I got his name put on!
7

BiGDonnie added 19:34 - Mar 17 Sign him up sign him up sign uuuuuup!
5

Ipswichbusiness added 19:58 - Mar 17 I'd love him to stay, but it will come down to money.
4

Vancouver_Blue added 20:07 - Mar 17 Yes please, Would love him to be a permanent Blue
7

OwainG1992 added 20:08 - Mar 17 How wonderful is that to hear. For those worried about money. Remember this, Mr Evans has left the building.
6

Suffolkboy added 20:34 - Mar 17 The very evident key to our success and great potential future is having put in place new ownership who have the business and sporting enthusiasm to commit and develop each and every aspect of ITFC ; AND have sought out and installed a real football manager, coach and true mentor for the side and Club ! Standards are being re- established in a quiet but uncompromising manner and there's no doubt success will be reflected all round ! COYB

6

BurleysGloryDays added 21:52 - Mar 17 Wonderful news, brilliant player and part of our club's story nowadays. Writing himself into the annals
6

1psw1ch added 22:54 - Mar 17 no brainer,,, make it happen,,, we need him
5

harlingblue added 04:04 - Mar 18 So good that special players want to be part of The McKenna Revolution of our club. Onwards and upwards for The Super Blues.
4

Saxonblue74 added 06:52 - Mar 18 There is no better player in lge 1 than Celina, this would be a huge signing. He's also a player that could be for the long term as he's proven at championship level. I would argue that the championship actually suits his style better than lge 1. Great to know he wants to stay, it says a lot about the state of our club and the atmosphere among playing and coaching staff.

6

johnwarksshorts added 07:44 - Mar 18 Sign him up.
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Fat_Boy_Tim added 08:32 - Mar 18 I wrote this yesterday but it bears repeating… A fully fit, fully focussed, settled, happy and properly coached Celina would grace any team in league 1 or the Championship. Let's have him signed up so that the season after next he can play in the Championship, on our new Desso pitch, under the giant screen in front of 30,000 fans and can take a Recaro seat on 85mins to a standing ovation. Hey, you can but dream!

5

Cakeman added 09:13 - Mar 18 Quite simply he is back home where he wants to be and is adored by the supporters. We must do everything we can to keep him. He always creates a buzz in the crowd when he goes on one of his mazy runs as anything is possible. He is also difficult to predict which makes it harder for opposition teams too.
3

Razor added 10:02 - Mar 18 Quite simply this fellah is CLASS------stop. Get some decent forwards in in the summer who know what a goal looks like and there will be no stopping us.
3

ArnieM added 14:08 - Mar 18 🎶 Celiiiina 🎶….. legend 👍
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Radlett_blue added 12:05 - Mar 19 Interesting. He was a regular in his 2 years at Swansea, but they were happy to get rid & you would think he would be on a fair whack at Dijon, or else why would he have signed a 4 year deal there? They aren't going to be promoted this season so they won't want to pay his wages, but I doubt we can either in Division 3.
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