Watford trial beckons Bogdanovic

Daniel Bogdanovic (picture) has high hopes of earning a contract overseas after it emerged that Watford have offered him a trial.

The Times has learnt that Bogdanovic will be travelling to England later this month after receiving an invitation from the English Premier League club to train with their first-team squad for four days.

One of the most skilful players in Maltese football, Bogdanovic has been in scintillating form for Marsaxlokk this season.

Sharing top spot in the Premier League scoring charts with Valletta's Sebastian Monesterolo, both with 15 goals, Bogdanovic is reportedly being monitored by a host of English clubs.

Having been alerted to Bogdanovic by a contact in Malta, Watford had the Marsaxlokk striker watched on more than one occasion.

A Watford scout was in Malta last month to have a closer look at Bogdanovic during Marsaxlokk's 1-0 victory over Valletta.

Bogdanovic, 26, has made no secret of his ambition to play abroad. In the early years of his career, he had spells with a couple of foreign clubs, namely Hungarian club SC Vasas and Cherno More Varna, in Bulgaria.

His overseas stints were short-lived, however, as both Vasas and Cherno More Varna ran into deep financial difficulties at the time Bogdanovic was employed with them.

Last summer, Bogdanovic was linked with a move to Cyprus to join Division One club Akritas but he eventually opted to stay at Marsaxlokk.

In an interview to The Times in October, Bogdanovic had revealed that three foreign clubs were willing to sign him during the January transfer window.

"I've got contract offers from three foreign clubs," Bogdanovic commented. "I'm still keen on playing abroad but I want to finish this season here."

Bogdanovic's lead role in Marsaxlokk's excellent start to the season is testament to his commitment to help Brian Talbot's team win the Premier League for the first time but the opportunity to sign for an English club could be too good to let it go by.

Meanwhile, the start of a new year signals the beginning of a busy month in so far as transfers are concerned.

Sliema Wanderers, who have risen from sixth to third in the Premier League after gaining an impressive 16 points from their last six matches, are expected to step up their efforts to increase their pool of strikers.

Birkirkara's Etienne Barbara remains their number one target but with the Stripes adamant to hold on to the Malta forward, coach Ray Farrugia is likely to switch his focus elsewhere.

Sources have told The Times that a young striker from Northern Ireland could join the Wanderers for a trial in the next few days.

Mifsud's position

One Maltese player who is widely tipped to grab the headlines this month is Michael Mifsud.

Speculation has been rife that the nippy striker is a transfer target for a number of foreign clubs, including some from the English Premier League.

Reports in the UK last month suggested that Sheffield United were leading the chase to sign Mifsud, who is a free player after his two-and-a-half-year contract with Norway's Lillestrom expired in December.

Sources close to Mifsud told The Times that the 25-year-old is still weighing offers from a number of suitors, mainly from England.