Italian goalkeeper Pietro Marino was due to report for his first training session with Valletta yesterday as the Citizens began their pre-season under the guidance of coach Mark Miller.
Having made the signing of a goalkeeper their top priority in the summer transfer market, Valletta are expected to offer a contract to Marino who played for Serie B club Reggina on loan from Cosenza.
Marino, 26, had a long spell with Reggina in the early years of his professional career, making his debut in the Serie A in a game against Siena in 2009.
The Italian is expected to turn out for Valletta in the Euro Cup competition, starting next Monday, as Manuel Bartolo is currently serving a three-month ban.
Valletta, who finished a disappointing third in the Premier League last season and lost to eventual winners Hibernians in the U*Bet FA Trophy semi-finals, have retained the services of Brazilian forward Denni and Belgian defender Jason Lee Vandelannoite for next season.
The other foreigners, namely Brazilian duo William Barbosa and Gabriel and Senegalese striker Demba Toure have not been offered a new contract.
Valletta are not expected to keep Nigerian Abubakat Bello-Osagie who had joined them on loan from Qormi in January.
Barbosa has joined Division One club St Andrew’s as player-coach.
Apart from Marino, Valletta are poised to sign a Dutch striker who has never played in the Maltese league and will also give a trial to a midfielder from Gambia.
Sources have told The Times of Malta that the Whites are willing to hold on to Malta defender Luke Dimech after he made a positive impact on the team during his loan spell from Mosta.
Valletta have yet to reach an agreement with midfielders Roderick Briffa and Edmond Agius over a new contract.
Champions Birkirkara are also striving to bring in some reinforcements in order to make their squad more competitive.
The Stripes are being linked with a move for Botswana international Sekhana Koko who could feature for the team in the Euro Cup competition.
Birkirkara meet Sliema Wanderers in the tournament’s opening match on Monday.
Balzan, who have confirmed Italian coach Riccardo Tumiatti and his assistant Silvan Ciscaldi for next season, are engaged in efforts to overhaul their squad after finishing a disappointing ninth last term.
The Reds have already agreed terms to sign three new foreign players, namely Spanish striker Jose Luis Armaro Negrin, whose haul of 22 goals for Melita and Rabat Ajax earned him the Premier League’s top scorer award, Italian midfielder Fabio Vignaroli, who was with Mosta, and versatile Norwegian player Kai Risholt who played in Bulgaria last season.
Spanish goalkeeper Daniel Martinez has also been confirmed by Balzan who are prepared to listen to offers for left-back Jacob Borg, a target for Sliema Wanderers.
Rabat Ajax have appointed Steve D’Amato as their new coach. D’Amato, who led Mosta to a top-six finish last season before making way for Danilo Doncic, succeeds Silvio Vella who has landed a job with the Malta FA to replace Branko Nisevic. The latter has taken charge of Hibernians who opted not to renew the contract of Michael Woods.
D’Amato’s agreement with Rabat means that the young coach will extend his spell in the Premier League to six seasons following stints with Ħamrun Spartans and Mosta.
Division One champions Naxxar Lions are also stepping up their efforts to strengthen their squad. Brazilian midfielders Pablo Doffo and Andre Rocha Da Silva have concluded talks to sign a new contract with Naxxar but the club have parted ways with Nigerian players Sunday Eboh and Anthony Ewurum.
While the Lions are scouring the market to try and add some Maltese players to their squad, they are expected to sign a Brazilian midfielder while a French defender will join Winston Muscat’s team for a trial later this month.
Naxxar had been hopeful of tying up a deal with flank defender Louis Cutajar who made his competitive debut for the Malta U-21s in last week’s 2-0 defeat to Poland.
Cutajar, who last season played for amateur team Norwich United, is attracting interest from a host of Maltese clubs but is biding his time as an unnamed English club have offered him a trial.
Coach Oliver Spiteri has signed a one-year contract extension with Vittoriosa who were promoted to the Premier League at the end of last season. Assistant coach Jean Paul Desira and goalkeepers’ trainer Alex Camilleri will also remain with the Stars who have confirmed Brazilian duo Ramon Dos Santos and Marcelo Pereira.
Euro Cup Fixtures
Centenary Stadium (kick-offs 8pm)
June 17: Birkirkara vs Sliema Wanderers; June 18: Hibernians vs Valletta; June 21: Hibs vs Sliema; June 22: Birkirkara vs Valletta; June 25: Sliema vs Valletta; June 26: Birkirkara vs Hibs.