Premier League champions Valletta are set to bolster their squad with the signing of their first foreign player this summer, Njongo Priso, the Cameroon forward who played for Msida St Joseph last season.

Club insiders told The Times that negotiations between the two clubs have reached a positive conclusion. Valletta now have to agree terms with the U-20 player who scored 11 times in the league for the Saints.

Valletta played their first match of the season on Monday and figured in a one-all draw with Birkirkara in the Euro Challenge Cup. An all-Maltese City team had a fine match but many at the Centenary Stadium reckoned that Paul Zammit's side still requires a prolific goal-scorer to replace the departing Sebastian Monesterolo.

Argentine Monesterolo was the Premier League top scorer last season with 19 goals. He left Malta to join AEK Larnaca in Cyprus last month. Nigerian Frank Temile moved to Ukraine's Dynamo Kiev while German midfielder Heiner Backhaus also left Valletta and is seeking pastures new elsewhere.

Valletta, who play Slovak champions Artmedia in next week's first qualifying round of the Champions League, are also expected to give a trial to a promising Nigerian midfielder later on this week.

Meanwhile, Ħamrun Spartans yesterday announced that striker Steve Meilaq has signed a three-year extension after his contract had expired in May.

A club statement said, Meilaq was very positive during negotiations and "he immediately showed his intentions to prolong his stay with Ħamrun Spartans".

The Spartans have already recruited new signings Ronaldo Paulista, of Brazil, Serbian Zoran Levniac and former Floriana utility player Manolito Micallef. However, Meilaq's decision not to change club was a boost for Ħamrun who are seeking to assemble a strong squad capable of challenging for the honours.

Qormi are expected to sign former Valletta duo Massimo Grima and Renie Forace.

The newly-promoted side are also expected to give a trial to two Brazilian players, defender Lucas Ramon Dos Santos and midfielder Josluan Ales Da Silva.

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