Birkirkara have emerged as favourites to sign Marsaxlokk left-back Carlo Mamo during next month’s transfer window.
Discussions between Birkirkara officials, Mamo and the Marsaxlokk hierarchy, headed by new president Renato Attard, are believed to be at an advanced stage but no agreement has been reached so far.
At one point, Tarxien Rainbows were on the verge of acquiring the 32-year-old Mamo but they have been overtaken by Birkirkara after the latter stepped up their pursuit of a player who won the league title in each of his previous two loan spells with the club.
While Birkirkara are pushing to sign Mamo on a permanent deal, they are also in talks with Marsaxlokk to take goalkeeper Reuben Gauci on loan until the end of the season.
It is believed that the two clubs have verbally reached an agreement over Gauci’s loan move. The signing of a goalkeeper has become a top priority for Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit following the departure of Jorge Mora.
The Spanish goalkeeper, who had rejoined the Stripes in the summer, has terminated his contract by mutual agreement as he wants to return to his home country for personal reasons.
News of Mora’s exit was confirmed by Birkirkara president Joe Zammit who also said that Brazilian defender Rodrigo Pereira is no longer in the club’s plans.
“We are trying to come to an amicable agreement with Rodrigo Pereira over the termination of his contract,” Zammit told The Times.
“We were expecting a better contribution from Rodrigo Pereira than what he’s given to the team so far.”
Zammit also said that a host of foreign players will be having trials with Birkirkara, currently fourth in the Premier League table in the coming weeks.
The Birkirkara president also confirmed that discussions with John Buttigieg and Carmel Busuttil, the former Malta coach and assistant coach respectively, to take charge of the club’s nursery have come to a successful conclusion.
Although their two-year contracts will commence on June 1, 2012, Buttigieg and Busuttil have agreed to start working for the Birkirkara nursery with immediate effect.
Burkina Faso defender to train with Valletta
Saïdou Madi Panandétiguiri ‘Panandiho’ a Burkina Faso international, is expected to start training with Valletta later this month with a view to joining the club.
Panandiho, 27, played for the reserve team of French club Girondins Bordeaux in the early years of his professional career.
He has had spells with Belgian team Lokeren, SV Wehen Wiesbaden, in Germany, and Portuguese side Uniao Leiria, his last club.
Mqabba are trying to sign Sliema defender Clifford Gatt Baldacchino on loan until the end of the season.