Town Win Race to Sign Celina

Friday, 16th Jun 2017 09:32

Town have won the race to sign Manchester City youngster Bersant Celina on a season-long loan and the 20-year-old is expected to complete his move to the Blues later today.

Bolton had looked strong favourites to recruit the Kosovo international for 2017/18 but Sky Sports reported earlier this morning that the Blues were set to land the winger and TWTD understands that that is indeed the case with Celina to travel to Portman Road today to formalise the deal.

The player himself suggested that Bolton were leading the chase earlier in the week, while Leeds and QPR were also understood to have shown interest in the highly-rated youngster.

Having moved to Norway as a two-year-old, Celina was with Strømsgodset as schoolboy before joining Manchester City at 15.

Prizren-born Celina, who is contracted to City until 2020, spent 2016/17 on loan with Dutch side FC Twente, scoring five times and picking up five assists in 27 appearances. Twente were believed to keen for him to return next season.

Capped six times by Kosovo at full level, scoring once, Celina has made one Premier League sub appearance for City in addition to two starts and one game from the bench in the FA Cup.

In addition to signing Celina, the Blues are also likely to confirm Joe Garner's £1 million move from Rangers today with only very minor details still to be completed.

Photo: Action Images

MeenoITFC added 09:34 - Jun 16

Great News! Have faith town fans instead of expecting the worst. Excited to see how he turns out for us 18

BLUEBEAT added 09:34 - Jun 16

Now that is a good signing. 3 more exciting signings and I may invest in ST. 12

BlueandTruesince82 added 09:35 - Jun 16

Lol. After all that bitching too. Have to say I am surprised at this but pleased. We will need loans regardless of the perm additions we hopefully make. Well done town. 17

RegencyBlue added 09:37 - Jun 16

Good signing.



Looks like the season ticket boycott is beginning to bite with Mr Evans! 9

muccletonjoe added 09:37 - Jun 16

this is a good signing , as long as he stays fit he should give us the opportunity of achieving something more than survival 6

Michael11 added 09:40 - Jun 16

Never heard of him. Obviously going to have talent if he's at Man City though. I'd never heard of Aaron Mooy this time last year and he was player of the year getting Huddersfield promoted. Hopefully bring in some permanent signings now though. 10

BlueBhoy added 09:41 - Jun 16

As long as he realises he has to put the hard graft in on the training pitch hopefully he will get game time. If he works hard in training McCarthy and TC will reward him and then he can become a regular. Talent alone won't get him a run in the first team unless he proves himself to be a grafter and team player first. 7

Bluebell added 09:43 - Jun 16

Have just been reading about him and I can't believe we have got him. Absolutely fantastic news.



With Garner too it sounds like Town are making a great effort to sign some much needed strength for the squad.



A couple more signings and the team will be looking great! 13

Bluebell added 09:43 - Jun 16

Have just been reading about him and I can't believe we have got him. Absolutely fantastic news.



With Garner too it sounds like Town are making a great effort to sign some much needed strength for the squad.



A couple more signings and the team will be looking great! 5

fergalsharkey added 09:43 - Jun 16

My gast is flabbered. 10

Bluebell added 09:43 - Jun 16

I really don't know why that posted twice. Sorry. 1

bluehook added 09:44 - Jun 16

Who knows anything about him, or has genuinely seen him play?

Please comment below. 1

Lathers added 09:45 - Jun 16

Some success! Hooray! More please... 2

rickw added 09:46 - Jun 16

How long has it been since we've beaten other teams to sign a player????

Hopefully he can be this season's Fraser/Lawrence :-) 5

PutneyBlue added 09:46 - Jun 16

I could never work out last season whether MM and TC had lost their touch or whether ME still hadn't realised just how much it would cost to get to the top. This suggests that MM and TC are being rewarded for making the best job of a poor hand last season. If so, that's really encouraging. 2

hoppy added 09:47 - Jun 16

Excellent stuff. Nice to hear that for once, we've come out on top when other clubs have been interested... 7

ArnieM added 09:48 - Jun 16

The QUALITY of this signing will hopefully send out the message to other potential targets that Town can ( will) finally compete and it will get "easier" to attract other quality players instead of journey man dross.



Evans finally sitting up and acting? Good if so. 7

bluearmy78 added 09:48 - Jun 16

This is fantastic news, now go & sign up Huws! 10

weevil added 09:50 - Jun 16

I will honestly say I was not expecting this. This is great news to have such a young talented player. I really would have thought he'd go on load to a club closer to home - but perhaps he isn't really "settled" t'up north. 5

Surco72 added 09:50 - Jun 16

Could be a very good signing played in the correct way , well done to the club for getting him to Town 2

Len_Brennan added 09:52 - Jun 16

Although, like most on here, I knew nothing about him a few months ago, he sounds like a great signing for us.

Credit where it is due, the Town management has identified and persuaded some of the Championship's best loan signings to come to Ipswich over the last few years. I've been happy to criticise over many decisions and actions, so I'm happy to accept and praise when they do good.

6

howdonblue added 09:53 - Jun 16

Very good point Surco72 'IF Played I. The correct way "



This is a major point if not he will be here for 3 months and return to city 2

tractorboybig added 09:56 - Jun 16

there is no planning or future here anymore. We have secured some good loans in the past but they are stop gasps only 0