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

SamWhiteUK added 18:31 - Aug 1 How is anyone using the weekend's game as an argument for Celina?
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fifeblue added 18:46 - Aug 1 This ship has sailed. Move on. We do not need Celina now.
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TimmyH added 18:56 - Aug 1 Seriously who cares? this has got boring.
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RobsonWark added 19:28 - Aug 1 Yay!!! Thank heavens!! He does not want to come here so let it go!!!
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Terrystowel added 20:02 - Aug 1 Hirst would have to considerably improve his one goal every six games scoring record to make a difference IMO. He'd be an expensive punt with fairly poor credentials.
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Lightningboy added 20:06 - Aug 1 This saga needs putting to bed. It's obvious we need a proven goalscorer as the last piece of the jigsaw. Thought we would've had that sorted long ago.
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