Italian defender Andrea Scozzese (right) is having a trial with Sliema Wanderers. Photo: Paul Zammit Cutajar

It’s that time of the year when European clubs devote most of their time to signing new players in a bid to strengthen their squad.

Malta is no different. The Premier League clubs have long been engaged in efforts to bring in reinforcements.

Valletta have been one of the most active clubs so far after signing Maltese-Australian Adrian Zahra and agreeing a deal with Hibs defender Ryan Camilleri.

The champions are now in the process of completing the paperwork of Camilleri’s transfer with the Malta defender, who was out of contract, expected to sign a five-year deal.

Valletta have also reached agreement with a host of players, including defenders Steve Borg and Ian Azzopardi and Brazilian forward Denni, to extend their contracts.

Gilbert Agius, the newly-appointed Valletta coach, is currently assessing the qualities of a Spanish midfielder by the name of Xavi Munoz.

Munoz, 31, is having a trial with Valletta who are searching a replacement for Georgian mid-fielder Irakli Maisuradze. The Spaniard is expected to feature for Valletta in the upcoming Euro Cup Friendly Tournament, starting on Thursday.

The Citizens’ pursuit of a defensive midfielder has heigh-tened speculation that Edmond Agius may leave the club.

Sources told Times of Malta that Birkirkara have renewed their interest in the 27-year-old.

Elsewhere, Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit is using his team’s training camp in France to run the rule over a host of trialists, including two foreign goalkeepers.

One of them, from Bosnia, and a Nigerian midfielder will not be retained by the Stripes. Two Slovenian players will today join the squad for a trial at their training base in Chambon Sur Lignon.

Rowen Muscat has not travelled with the Birkirkara squad as the Malta midfielder has set his sights on a move to a foreign club. Muscat has been in talks with Bosnian club FK Olimpic Sarajevo but no deal has been agreed yet.

Sliema Wanderers, who along with Valletta, Birkirkara and Hibs are preparing for their participation in the European competitions, are also gauging the capabilities of a host of foreign players.

One of these hopefuls is Italian defender Andrea Scozzese who had a very positive season with Gudja United in Division One last season.

It is believed that Sliema coach Alfonso Greco has been keeping tabs on Scozzese, who had a short spell with Valletta two yeas ago, for several months.

Serbian midfielder Marko Potezica, formerly of Mqabba, Tarxien and Lija, is also training with Sliema who on Sunday tied up a deal to sign Malta captain Michael Mifsud.

Tarxien Rainbows are looking to overhaul their squad after finishing in the bottom half of the standings last season.

Clive Mizzi, who has been confirmed as coach of the Rainbows, could have up to four new foreign players as only Brazilians Jorge Santos Silva and Carlos Hevia have been retained from last season’s squad.

Brazilian striker Daniel Mariano Bueno has joined Mosta on a season-long loan with defenders Kane Farrugia and Alex Cini switching to the Rainbows, also on loan, as part of the deal.

Owen Bugeja, who played for Qormi last season, is on the verge of joining Tarxien who are also expected to sign two goalkeepers, Jonathan Debono, formerly of Mosta and Floriana, and Sean Cini, who was on the books of Vittoriosa Stars last season.

Balzan, now under the guidance of Oliver Spiteri, are close to securing the services of Samir Arab from Valletta. Arab is a player Spiteri knows very well after the young defender spent two seasons on loan with Vittoriosa Stars.

Another defender who is attracting Balzan’s interest is Clive Brincat who also played for Vittoriosa Stars last season.

Piccioni to stay

Italian coach Enrico Piccioni is widely expected to remain in charge of Mosta after leading the Blues to a fourth-place finish last season.

Piccioni is due to return to Malta today ahead of the start of the team’s pre-season training.

Apart from Bueno, Mosta have retained Montenegrin striker Bojan Kaljevic and Cameroonian wing-back Rodriguez Ekani.

Kaljevic, who scored 12 goals in the Premier League last season, is on the wish-list of several clubs, including some foreign ones, but Mosta have so far managed to fend off interest in the towering forward.

Sources also told Times of Malta that Mosta are keen to re-sign wing-back Dyson Falzon on loan from Valletta. Falzon had rejoined Mosta in January but his season was cut short by a cruciate injury.

Falzon has resumed training after recovering from his operation.

Qormi are expected to part with all the foreign players they had last season bar Nigerian Alfred Effiong who has already agreed a deal to stay at the club next season.

Josef Mansueto is expected to take charge of the first team but his appointment has not been confir-med yet as Qormi will hold their annual general meeting this Friday.

Naxxar Lions have completed the signing of former Balzan and Tarxien Rainbows midfielder David Fenech.