TWTD understands former Blues loanee Bersant Celina’s loan move to Turkish side Kasımpaşa is back on and is set to be completed in the next couple of days.

Celina is travelling to Istanbul make the switch to the Süper Lig side, a season-long loan from parent club Dijon with an option to buy, a fortnight after making the same trip and deciding not to make the move to the club whose average attendance last season was 2,451.

Town had been in talks with Celina regarding his return to Portman Road for a third spell - also a loan with a view to a permanent switch - for much of the summer with the player understood to be keen on the switch but with no agreement reached. We understand no new discussions have taken place since the 25-year-old’s previous trip to Istanbul.

As revealed last month, Stoke looked to be Celina’s destination until his work permit situation caused the proposed switch to collapse.

In addition to Kasımpaşa, another Turkish club Antalyaspor also held talks and earlier in the summer Preston were keen but their interest is understood to have cooled and would anyway have been impacted by the work permit issue.

Interest from Rangers, who were believed to have been keen with Scottish clubs subject to an exemption regarding the work permit situation, appears to have come to nothing.

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.

Town's top target remains Leicester striker George Hirst but with Championship clubs understood to include Blackburn and Blackpool also keen.

Photo: Matchday Images

BlueBlood90 added 13:32 - Aug 1 What a boring saga this is turning into. I think if McKenna desperately wanted Celina then he would've been signed by now. It's also a position where we appear to be well stocked so I'm not too fussed. All our efforts must go into signing a top quality striker before the end of the window.
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Pencilpete added 13:34 - Aug 1 After seeing us dominate an opponent and fail To beat them for about the 50th time in 12 months I'd have thought we'd be pushing to get Celina in because it's clear we still lack a cutting edge
2

Nobbysnuts added 13:39 - Aug 1 This is so boring now....not interested at all.....
8

blues1 added 13:47 - Aug 1 Pencilpete. How many goals did he score last season? Half the number harness scored. And how many assists? 1 less than harness. So dont think it's such a loss, is it. Would have been happy enough for us to sign him but not in the least disappointed we won't be.
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runningout added 13:51 - Aug 1 Good luck to Bersant from me
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Mariner1974 added 13:56 - Aug 1 I thought we missed him greatly on saturday. Harness not remotely at the races yet. Looked well short of match fitness and game sharpness. Celina is a proper game changer. Puts alot of weight on Chaplin's shoulders without him around, if McKenna views Aluko as a 20-30 min player for us, rather than a full 90. Celina provided us with some real moments last season. Don't get why some section of fans don't see what he brings to the table. Yeh all the tricky stuff with the wages and stuff that might well be out of our hands, but on a simple footballing level, I'm sure most Ipswich fans would be excited to see him don the shirt again.

8

Tractor_Boy_in_HK added 14:06 - Aug 1 He's clearly a better player than Harness - just look at their club history. But Harness will come good, he's just not at full fitness. I'd rather we spend on a striker than a luxury AM at the moment.
2

midastouch added 14:07 - Aug 1 Feels like this has been dragging on for almost as long as a public inquiry!
0

markchips added 14:11 - Aug 1 Probably for the best as we will now focus our attention on a striker which is clearly needed to take the pressure off Ladapo. We must remember Norwood, Pigott and Bonne all left and only one out and out replacement. John-Jules unproven at this level and not sure what he is yet.
5

Europablue added 14:22 - Aug 1 I'll be relieved when it's done and I don't have to hear any more about it. It's best to get these done or just move on. Otherwise, it's just a distraction.
2

superblues9 added 14:40 - Aug 1 Boring !! Great if we could sign him But would of signed by now if he was coming Get a striker in and we will Be ok
1

itfcnath added 14:54 - Aug 1 After that Bolton game, we need Bersant, Harness no where the player the Celina is, Aluko great getting round players but no end product, need that something special and Celina and Edwards, who doesn't even get a sniff anymore, are the only 2 players who I've seen do that. Poor from Ashton
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Billysherlockblue added 15:00 - Aug 1 For me Bc didnt have the work rate say like burns has ... so for me in league on im not dissoppointed he isnt coming to portman rd. Ps i believe harness will give us more when he settles and dont forget john..joules he is class with work rate. Look what u can do with will to win. Look at the English women's team . Work hard. Ps well done the lionesses absolutely fantastic and i luv the celebrations. Thats football at its best for me. Well done ladies. 💙

1

itfcserbia added 15:12 - Aug 1 Getting boring now a bit. If both the club and player really wanted it to happen by now Dijon would have succumbed. Anyway I think John-Jules will be just fine instead of Celina. He looks terrific talent.
0

Ipswichbusiness added 15:12 - Aug 1 Celina is a fantastic player and I would love to see him back. However, as always, it depends on budgets and the other options which we have in that position (such as the signing of Harness).
1

speccybaz added 15:17 - Aug 1 Yes, we'll miss his ‘worldies' but his regular inability to complete a five yard pass last season, less so. Just ‘thanks for the good times' and ‘good luck for the future'.
0

Cloddyseedbed added 15:31 - Aug 1 Good, we have enough good players now for that position, we don't need him or his wages.
0

cressi added 16:10 - Aug 1 To be fair Mariner Reference Harness will take a little time but remember he got double the amount of goals Celina did last season. Yes he can be a game changer but also at times invisible So not to bothered a striker far more pressing.
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MaySixth added 16:33 - Aug 1 zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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Mariner1974 added 16:40 - Aug 1 Yeh of course I want Harness to come good Cressi. Would love nothing more. I just always believe we can't judge a player properly until they've played for us. My mate was telling me to stop grieving over Bishop when he got dumped by Cook, as we had the much better player and better stats in terms of goals and assists coming in in the form of Scott Fraser. How did that one work out? I just like to base my opinions on their performances for Ipswich, and my favourite player last season was Celina. Whether the numbers all added up I haven't checked & am not bothered. I just know I loved watching him play, he had me on the edge of my seat, and often felt he was our best chance of creating something out of the blue in a tight game.

1

Mathie3Petta2 added 17:12 - Aug 1 Average attendance 2451? I know where I'd rather be playing
1

blues1 added 17:13 - Aug 1 Mariner1974. Harness scored double tgr number of goals celina did and had 1 more assist. Think it may take him a few games to getcused to the players around him before we see him at his best. And the other thing we'll get from him is a much higher workmate than celina. Which is necessary in this division.
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BlueRuin69 added 17:17 - Aug 1 Anyone critizing Harness after one get a grip, some on here laughable.
3

RobinHood added 17:25 - Aug 1 Good luck to Celina. I think if you need a good striker then you should move heaven and earth to get them. So blow away the interest of Portsmouth, Blackpool and Blackburn and buy Hurst from Leicester for £1m. McKenna will sell the club to him over Championship sides. Just do it and get him in to score the goals that we need.
1

churchmans81 added 17:28 - Aug 1 Loved his previous contributions and would have welcomed him Back for a third time. However if it was a move the club had been keen on it would have happened by now. So, time to wish him well and now move on. 🚜
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