With the start of the 2013/14 domestic season fast approaching, the majority of the clubs in the BOV Premier League have intensified their efforts to strengthen their squads.

Qormi and Balzan have been among the prime movers in the transfer market so far as both are working to overhaul their squad.

After finalising the appointment of Tommaso Volpi as their new coach, Qormi are now focusing their attention on the recruitment of players.

This week, they reached an agreement with Tarxien Rainbows to sign midfielder Roderick Bajada on a season-long deal.

Leighton Grech and Duncan Pisani have joined Qormi on a permanent basis after both played for the FA Trophy finalists on loan last season.

Volpi, who has already engaged the services of an Italian physical trainer, hopes to bolster his squad with the addition of a host of new foreign players.

Qormi have not retained any of the foreign players they had last season, namely English defender Kris Thackray, Chilean midfielder Edison Bilbao Zarate, Nigerian forward Alfred Effiong and Spanish striker Moises Avila Perez.

A young Italian playmaker who came through the junior ranks of Serie A club Roma is set to join Qormi who are also chasing the signature of Roderick Fenech. The lanky defender has reportedly obtained his release from Ħamrun Spartans.

As part of their pre-season preparations, Qormi will this evening play a friendly match against Naxxar Lions at the Sirens Ground (kick-off 7pm).

Naxxar Lions, promoted to the elite league as Division One champions last season, have also been actively working to improve their squad.

Brazilian defender Evaldo was due to arrive in Malta yesterday with a view to signing for Naxxar Lions.

Evaldo had a short spell with Tarxien Rainbows last season before heading back to Brazil during the January transfer window.

Naxxar are also set to offer a contract to a Brazilian player who caught the eye of coach Winston Muscat while playing for Mansfield Town in last weekend’s friendly match against the Lions.

The new Maltese signings for Naxxar are Terrence Scerri, on loan from Valletta, and Andrew Decesare, who was on the books of Sliema Wanderers last season.

Balzan, under the guidance of Italian coach Riccardo Tumiatti and his assistant Silvan Ciscaldi, have revamped their squad after finishing a disappointing ninth last season.

They have made several new acquisitions, namely Justin Grioli and Steve Bezzina, who will be reunited after both played for Valletta in the early years of their careers, Gianluca Calabretta, ex-Ħamrun, Luke Sciberras, formerly of Qormi, Mark Spiteri, who was with Floriana, Andrew Scicluna and promising youngster Godwin McKay.

Sources have told Times of Malta that Balzan are trying to lure Malta U-21 captain Zack Muscat who was part of Birkirkara’s title-winning squad last season.

Apart from Spanish goalkeeper Daniel Martinez, who has been retained, Balzan have opted for new foreigners. These are Spanish striker Jose Luis Armaro Negrin, the Premier League’s top scorer last season, Italian midfielder Fabio Vignaroli, Albanian forward Erjon Beu and Norwegian utility player Kai Risholt.

Balzan have also hired the services of Luca Tonetti, an Italian physical trainer.

Floriana’s campaign

Floriana, who have appointed Englishman Ian Dawes as their new coach following the depar-ture of Iain Brunskill, are hopeful of lifting their transfer ban next week but in the meantime, they have agreed deals with a number of players.

Malta forward Daniel Bog-danovic is arguably the most high-profile player to pledge his future to Floriana. Bogdanovic, keen to regain his best form after an injury-plagued season, is poised to sign a two-year deal with the Greens.

After starting the season with Mosta, Bogdanovic moved to Valletta in January but left the club by mutual agreement before the end of the campaign.

Floriana have signed Nigerian defender Emmanuel Edet Ibok but, more significantly, have held on to their prolific Brazilian forward Igor Coronado, named best foreign player at the Malta FA Awards.

Dawes, who like Brunskill was part of the coaching staff of the Liverpool Academy, is running the rule over two forwards, one from Albania and the other from Cameroon.

Steve Vaughan Jr, the Floriana president, is also hoping to tie up a deal for Hibs winger Steve Pisani who impressed during his short loan stint with the Greens last season.

Another target for Floriana is Louis Cutajar, an English flank defender of Maltese descent who was recently called up to the Malta U-21 squad.

Valletta, who will meet FC Minsk in the second qualifying round of the Europa League after a 4-0 aggregate win over San Marino’s La Fiorita, are giving a trial to a Spanish striker ­– Arnal Conde. The 32-year-old last played for Cypriot club Ethnikos Achnas.

Earlier this week, Birkirkara increased their pool of defenders with the signings of Brazilian Jonathan Maciel, who has an Italian passport, and Spaniard Ricardo Jimenez.

Bulgarian winger Danail Mitev has agreed to extend his contract with Mosta. Led by Danilo Doncic, the Blues are awaiting the arrival of a host of players, from Italy, Russia and Brazil, for a trial.

The top moves

Birkirkara - Frank Temile (f), Jonathan Maciel (d)

Valletta - Hamza Barry (m) Pietro Marino (gk)

Floriana - Daniel Bogdanovic (f)

Balzan - Jose Luis Negrin (f) Justin Grioli (d)

Qormi - Roderick Bajada (m)