Manchester City youngster Bersant Celina says he opted to join the Blues ahead of a number of other interested sides as it’s a “very good and big club with a very good manager”. The 20-year-old’s season-long loan to Town has been agreed in principle but won’t be formally confirmed until the Kosovo international returns from holiday.

The Blues fought off opposition from Bolton, Leeds, QPR, Celina’s former loan side FC Twente and other clubs in Holland and Belgium to land the highly-rated attacker for the 2017/18 campaign.

Celina told Norwegian TV channel TV2 that he made his decision yesterday: “Things have gone very fast. I decided to sign for Ipswich on Thursday.”

He added: ”I chose Ipswich because it is a very good and big club with a very good manager."

We understand the deal is essentially done but can’t yet be formalised with Celina still technically on loan at FC Twente, where he spent the 2016/17 campaign, until the end of the month.

The winger, who can also operate up front or off the main striker, has also now flown out on holiday having been away on international duty with Kosovo’s U21s in Norway, the country where he grew up from the age of two.

He is now expected at Portman Road at the start of pre-season training on Monday 26th June or in the days afterwards when he will undergo a medical and complete the formalities relating to his switch.

In addition to Celina's thoughts on Town, the progress made by the likes of Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Ryan Fraser and Tom Lawrence during their loan spells at Portman Road in the last couple of seasons is understood to have counted in the Blues’ favour, while a growing relationship between Town and Manchester City is also believed to have helped facilitate the move.

Prizren-born Celina, who is contracted to City until 2020, was with Strømsgodset as schoolboy before joining Manchester City at 15.

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.

Meanwhile, the Blues also continue to wait to complete the signing of Rangers striker Joe Garner, who got married in his native Lancashire earlier today. Confirmation of that move is now likely to come next week.

All aspects of the deal to join Town have been agreed, a £1 million fee and what’s understood to be a three-year deal, but the Blues are waiting on Garner to resolve an outstanding financial issue with Rangers before the paperwork can be completed.

Photo: Action Images

emergencylime added 19:50 - Jun 16 Wadey, the only other player lately was a young defender early on in the MM era who didn't play, so it must be a burgeoning relationship. I'm not counting Henshall or Veseli as I believe they'd been released. Welcome Bersant!
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sereneblue added 20:05 - Jun 16 No mention on how good our training facilities are and how great the the fans are. Probably the autocue got stuck!
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poldark added 20:25 - Jun 16 See what he says after a few weeks fighting relegation and sitting in the under 23s. Can't believe how all you have forgotten the last 2 years and how supporters have been treated you deserve everything you get. DIV 1
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ianmarshall10 added 20:34 - Jun 16 Glad his joined the bigger club out of the ones who wanted him 👍🏻 According to BBC we've confirmed Garner signing as well.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 20:36 - Jun 16 BBC says garner deal done
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TimmyH added 20:57 - Jun 16 Yep!...well at least he's right about the 'big club'. Welcome aboard Celina, let's hope Mick gives him more time than the last City recruitment!
2

DarkHorse added 21:30 - Jun 16 Ee's roight. Thissa hooooge club. Gdonya boi.
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SheptonMalletBlue added 22:10 - Jun 16 "A very good manager" Who told you to say that?
4

battyblue added 06:07 - Jun 17 Henshall springs to mind a exciting young player who Dino considered not a proper bloke so froze him out and then later kicked him out, we will wait and see before getting carried away.And its still MM out 100%.
4

coolcat added 08:37 - Jun 17 This is positive news. Looking forward to his coming to our club along with Garner (now signed). :)
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phillo added 11:55 - Jun 17 "Very good manager" - Mick gone ?? (sorry couldn't resist 😂 - to be fair well done to land this deal against st strong opposition)
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whittonite added 17:29 - Jun 17 just watched the clip. hits the post a lot doesn't he, still not impressed we've got promising players in the academy. don't want promising we want players who deliver. obviously time will tell
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cat added 18:07 - Jun 17 Usual suspects are back hitting them minuses with gusto!! all this false hope that the Dino's gonna change is laughable and so fickle in my book. Come the season and all this false hope bollox will soon become reality, AGAIN, same old, same old. DINO OUT NOW (if only)
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blueboy1981 added 11:08 - Jun 19 .......... if he's got talent, young, and plenty of flair - he'll be wasted here - just like many other youngsters before him, under this Dino.
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blueboy1981 added 11:08 - Jun 19 .......... if he's got talent, young, and plenty of flair - he'll be wasted here - just like many other youngsters before him, under this Dino.
0

blueboy1981 added 11:08 - Jun 19 .......... if he's got talent, young, and plenty of flair - he'll be wasted here - just like many other youngsters before him, under this Dino.
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