Greece shaping up as Hogg’s next destination
Balzan overhaul continues
Malta goalkeeper Andrew Hogg is poised to continue his career in Greece after agreeing a deal with AEL Kalloni.
The 28-year-old is expected to finalise his move later this month after signing a preliminary agreement.
Buoyed by his positive spell with Neon Enosis Paralimni in the Cyprus top league last season, Hogg has been determined to secure another contract with an overseas club in order to progress further in his career.
In recent weeks, Hogg was linked with a return to Valletta, the club he left in summer of 2012 to join Enosis, but he all but ruled out an immediate return to Maltese football in an interview with The Times of Malta a few weeks ago.
AEL Kalloni are not among the leading teams in Greece but they have ambitions to establish themselves in the Super League after winning promotion last season.
The club’s plans to strengthen their squad and produce a strong challenge in Greece’s elite championship appealed to Hogg who is eagerly looking forward to pre-season training after completing his recovery from a back problem that forced him out of Malta’s 1-0 win over Armenia in a World Cup Group B qualifier earlier this month.
Elsewhere, Premier League club Balzan’s drive to overhaul their squad is gathering momentum.
After securing the services of three new foreigners – Spanish striker Jose Luis Armaro Negrin, the Premier League’s top scorer last season with Melita and Rabat Ajax, Italian midfielder Fabio Vignaroli, who was on the books of Mosta, and Norwegian utility man Kai Risholt – Balzan have turned their attention to a host of Maltese targets.
Yesterday, they completed the signing of midfielder Luke Sciberras who played for Qormi last season.
Tarxien’s Justin Grioli is also set to move to Balzan after an agreement was reach with the Rainbows for the wing-back’s transfer.
Steve Bezzina, who like Grioli came through the youth ranks of Valletta FC, is also attracting interest from Balzan who have parted ways with the majority of the established players that formed the backbone of their squad last season.
Bezzina, who can play at left-back or centre-half, is on the books of Mosta.
Balzan have yet to resolve the future of left-back Jacob Borg.
Sliema were seen as the early favourites to sign Australian-born Borg but they have been unable to agree terms with his club.
Other top-flight clubs have made preliminary enquiries about Borg’s availability.
Newly-promoted Naxxar Lions are due to play a friendly against English side Mansfield on July 6.