Issues relating to Bersant Celina's UK work permit scuppered the Kosovo international's proposed loan move to Stoke City, TWTD understands, however, a switch to the Blues wouldn’t be similarly affected.

As reported earlier, Celina’s switch to the Potters, a loan with a view to a permanent deal, has broken down having come close to completion with the 25-year-old’s work permit situation having caused the collapse.

If Celina were to join the Championship club - or any other British side - he would be required to apply for a new work permit, however, we understand the forward wouldn’t qualify.

The situation with a return to Portman Road would be different as it would be a continuation of the existing work permit which allowed him to play for the Blues last season on loan from parent club Dijon.

Having played at League One level last season, an unbanded league when it comes to the points required for qualification, and with Kosovo ranked outside FIFA's top 50 national teams, Celina wouldn't get enough points for a new UK work permit this summer.

While that puts other UK clubs out of the running, that doesn’t mean Celina couldn’t join sides elsewhere in the world.

When he applied a year ago, having played in France's Ligue 1, a band one division, his work permit was a formality.

Town have been in talks with Celina regarding his return to Portman Road for a third spell for much of the summer with the player understood to be keen on the switch but with no agreement yet reached.

Turkish clubs, including Antalyaspor and Kasımpaşa, have also been in talks. Earlier in the summer Preston were keen but their interest is understood to have cooled and would now be impacted by the work permit issue.

Dijon remain in French Ligue 2 and need Celina, who has another two years left on his contract, off their wage bill for the season ahead with the one-time Swansea man not having joined them for the start of pre-season.

Celina spent last season on loan at Town having previously been with the Blues during 2017/18 while a Manchester City player and is very much a fans' favourite at Portman Road.

Photo: TWTD

boroughblue added 12:23 - Jul 15 Interesting, a little nudge in our favour then. Does now seem that Celina's ‘I want to stay at town' comments will be tested now as I'm sure clubs in other countries could maybe offer greater money. Unless it's because we can't afford the wage contribution that Dijon want. The plot thickens…
4

BlueBlood90 added 12:23 - Jul 15 Interesting! That surely puts us in pole position to sign him now. Hopefully this will be resolved one way or another quickly so it doesn't drag on all summer. It also looks like he hasn't had a pre-season again this summer so the quicker he joins somebody the better.
5

BlueSwede added 12:30 - Jul 15 On another note, I see Lewis Grabban has left Forest. Could he be the answer to our hunt for a striker?
-3

Wooly74 added 12:32 - Jul 15 Grabban is too old and an ex budgie 🤦‍♂️
1

Tractorog added 12:43 - Jul 15 Turkey's economy is in a bigger mess than ours... Which is saying something.
-3

ImAbeliever added 13:08 - Jul 15 Exciting at times last season, (peach of a goal) but overall I was disappointed. Still welcome back though.
0

markchips added 13:14 - Jul 15 Shame for Stoke but good for us as it narrows down Dijon's negotiating tactics so I expect a deal will get done.
1

Doc_Albran added 13:16 - Jul 15 Would take Celina if we can afford him/he wants to come, but if it were to be a him vs Hirst, I think I'd take Hirst. Celina's good, great to watch and has bags of talent, but is he a long term permanent option? Just feels like he blows too hot and cold
1

OwainG1992 added 13:22 - Jul 15 Very strange going on isn't it. So the only English club who can get him is ourselves? Feel like he's happy over here so that's a great sign.
2

Murphys_Law added 13:23 - Jul 15 Interesting! Might be why we are holding firm on our proposed offer? If we're the only club in the country that can actually get him a work permit it does help with the negotiation somewhat. If he goes abroad at least nobody else gets the benefit. This could run and run for a bit I reckon.
2

WhoisJimmyJuan added 13:34 - Jul 15 He's indicated before that he sees Town as his home. So I think this might increase his bargaining position to persuade Dijon to accept a lower proportion of his wages for us to pay, in order to get something done. Ashton astute enough to hold off and watch from the shadows
0

Bazza8564 added 13:35 - Jul 15 My view on Celina will probably upset many, but there were times last season you could see his reading of the game was so far ahead of his teammates, he was moving and looking into spaces that other players just didnt have the ability to read. Yes he seemed to blow hot and cold at times, but i think a lot of that would be easier linking up with Morsy, Chaplin, Burns etc because they know his game better after last season. To be honest, yes hes a luxury player at league One level, but if we can get him, he would be a real asset to take into the Championship with us should be get the job done this season. As far as Hirst is concerned, get him too, and let Davis stay at Leeds, Leigh will be fine with Edwards and Penney as back ups!

15

Europablue added 13:38 - Jul 15 This seems like a problem that is entirely manufactured by the government. It makes sense that we don't want to allow random people into the country who pretending to be professional footballers, but why does it make any difference if he is an international footballer? Isn't it fairly easy to investigate these players backgrounds to see if they are an elite player?
-1

NITFC added 13:45 - Jul 15 Potentially the best player in League 1 for the coming season. Whilst I enjoyed the game on Tuesday I was concerned over our lack of creativity at times and not having that clever killer pass or run which Celina has got in his locker
5

blues1 added 14:17 - Jul 15 NITFC Ido get what ur saying re Tuesday,but we were playing against a pl team and we did cause them problems, especially after we scored. Really don't see, with the fact we've actually changed formation in preseason, where celina would fit into the side. But would be happy enough for us to sign him. As long as it doesn't cost us being able to sign another striker, with the limit on wages. So if we had to choose, id say get the striker, as I think we have players already at the club who could play the celina role anyway.

2

BurleysGloryDays added 14:57 - Jul 15 Come on Santy, come home again. We'll need that quality this season, and you settling as part of a good team will bring the consistency
3

BeattiesBackPocket added 15:06 - Jul 15 Well said Bazza 👏🏻
1

Stato added 15:23 - Jul 15 If we can get him performing like he did in first spell then he will win league 1 player of the year. The performances last season didn't dominate teams the way I had hoped so I just hope that those that believe he is important to us are proved right.
1

fifeblue added 15:40 - Jul 15 "Issues relating to Bersant Celina's UK work permit scuppered the Kosovo international's proposed loan move to Stoke City, TWTD understands. (FULL STOP) However, a switch to the Blues wouldn't be similarly affected." OR "Issues relating to Bersant Celina's UK work permit scuppered the Kosovo international's proposed loan move to Stoke City, TWTD understands; (SEMI_COLON) however, a switch to the Blues wouldn't be similarly affected." OR "Issues relating to Bersant Celina's UK work permit scuppered the Kosovo international's proposed loan move to Stoke City, TWTD understands but a switch to the Blues wouldn't be similarly affected." Sorry to be a pedant with this correction but the common misuse of "however" really is infuriating. "However" is not a conjunction.

1

Bert added 15:49 - Jul 15 That's what happens when freedom of movement is restricted. It affects care homes, hospitals farmers and now football. Perversely we may benefit from it !
0

RobsonWark added 15:49 - Jul 15 fifeblue there should be a comma after "however" in your third example... "Issues relating to Bersant Celina's UK work permit scuppered the Kosovo international's proposed loan move to Stoke City, TWTD understands but a switch to the Blues wouldn't be similarly affected." "Issues relating to Bersant Celina's UK work permit scuppered the Kosovo international's proposed loan move to Stoke City, TWTD understands, but a switch to the Blues wouldn't be similarly affected." If you are going to correct peoples grammar!!

1

SamWhiteUK added 16:03 - Jul 15 fifeblue, I think you'll find that language evolves as people use it. It's reactive, not proactive.
-2

Europablue added 16:42 - Jul 15 Bert, freedom of movement makes it easy, but also causes a lot of problems. There is no reason why the government can't allow people we need or want to come in.
1

Wooly74 added 17:20 - Jul 15 Fifeblue - FFS it's a football page not A level English!!! And it appears by your name you aren't even English 😂😂😂
2

fifeblue added 17:37 - Jul 15 @RobsonWark: "fifeblue there should be a comma after "however" in your third example..." I assume you mean a comma before the "but"? If so, I agree with you :-) p.s. there is never a need for more than a single exclamation mark! @SamWhiteUK: Yes, of course language evolves but at any point in time there is correct and incorerct usage. @Wooly74: Actually, I am English and I originate from Ipswich. My point was to help improve the quality of the reporting which I generally find excellent. Also, the correction I made would normally be spotted by students far below A Level. Oh, and I did not resort to personal comments. But I appreciate your attempt at humour :-)

0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls