Sliema Wanderers president Keith Perry has taken the unusual step of distancing himself from reports linking his club with a host of veteran football stars.
After it emerged that Sliema Wanderers and their new financial backers have opened talks with former England midfielder Paul Ince to become their new head coach, reports have surfaced on news websites and Facebook that the Blues are looking to sign former Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero and other former stalwarts.
While confirming that the club and their investors are targeting some high-profile reinforcements, Perry dismissed the latest rumours as pure speculation.
“Sliema Wanderers would like to clarify that reports about the club’s transfer targets are based on speculation,” Perry told Times of Malta.
“These unfounded rumours can damage the club.
“We are adopting a cautious approach and, before we receive confirmation of certain important details, Sliema Wanderers will not make a formal announcement.”
Sliema have been in the limelight since news leaked that the Premier League club have been earmarked by a group of foreign investors to star in a football reality show on an international television channel next season.
While confirming that discussions over this exciting venture are at a very advanced stage, Perry reiterated his position that Sliema are waiting for reassurances before going public.
“Discussions are at a very advanced stage,” Perry said. “But, it would be imprudent on my part to comment further before the project is up and running.”
Sliema, who finished fifth in the BOV Premier League last season but qualified for the Europa League as losing finalists in the U*Bet FA Trophy which was won by champions Valletta, began their pre-season training yesterday under the guidance of Alfonso Greco.
The Italian coach is expected to remain with the club, regardless of whether the Blues appoint a new high-profile manager as has been widely reported.
Five of the foreign players who turned out for the club last season, namely Italians Stefano Bianciardi and Paltemio Barbetti, Nigerian forwards Stanley Ohawuchi and Abubakar Bello-Osagie and Argentine midfielder Mattias Muchardi, are still under contract.
Elsewhere, Denni is to extend his stay with Valletta after agreeing a new two-year deal with the league and FA Trophy winners.
Towards the end of last season, the indications were that Denni and Valletta would go their separate ways this summer but the situation changed after the Brazilian produced some influential performances that helped the Citizens reclaim the title on the last day of the championship.
Before Denni left for his holidays in Brazil, club president Victor Sciriha offered him a new two-year deal which has now been accepted by the former Tarxien livewire.
News that Denni is staying with Valletta is a boost for the fans and new coach Gilbert Agius who has taken over from Andre Paus.
Paus was yesterday officially unveiled as the new coach of Cypriot club Anorthosis Famagusta where he has teamed up with fellow Dutchman Ted van Leeuwen who last season had a short spell as technical director of Valletta.
Tunisian winger Abdelkarim Nafti, Gambian midfielder Hamza Barry and English forward Lateef Elford-Alliyu are still contracted to the Citizens.
Valletta are also expected to sign Maltese-Australian winger Adrian Zahra, subject to a medical. The 24-year-old, who spent the last two seasons with A-League club Perth Glory, arrived in Malta earlier this week ahead of his move to the champions.
Balzan, who have installed Oliver Spiteri, formerly of Vittoriosa Stars, as their new coach are also engaged in efforts to recruit new foreign players.
Of the overseas players who played for the Reds last season, only Chilean midfielder Edison Bilbao Zarate has been confirmed.
Balzan have struck a deal to sign Colombian forward Oscar Guerrero who impressed for Vittoriosa last season, scoring 15 goals.
Spiteri is looking to add three new foreign players who have never played in Malta before.