Pedrinho (grounded) has rejoined Sliema Wanderers after ending his unhappy spell with Mosta. The Brazilian playmaker had played for Sliema in season 2009-10. Photo: Darrin Zammit LupiPedrinho (grounded) has rejoined Sliema Wanderers after ending his unhappy spell with Mosta. The Brazilian playmaker had played for Sliema in season 2009-10. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

Sliema Wanderers have concluded negotiations to re-sign Brazilian playmaker Pedrinho.

The Blues, seventh in the Premier League with 22 points, acted swiftly to agree a deal with Pedrinho after he terminated his contract with Mosta.

Pedrinho is well-acquainted with local football having spent several years playing in the top flight after joining Msida St Joseph in season 2007-08.

The 28-year-old was regarded as one of the most influential foreigners in Maltese football during his spells with Msida and then Balzan, but struggled to live up to his reputation during his first stint with Sliema back in 2009/10.

Pedrinho has also found it difficult to show his best with Mosta where his first-team opportunities had been somewhat restricted but he will be hoping that his return to the Wanderers will kickstart his season.

Over the past few days, Sliema have increased their efforts to recruit forwards who can add some much-needed flair to their midfield and attack.

The departure of Fabio Mangia-casale, who returned to Italy where he joined Aversa Nor-manna, Michael Mifsud’s injury-enforced absence and the im-pending exit of Frenchman Guy Kassa Gnabouyou have inten-sified the need for the Blues to bolster their attacking options.

Now that the deal to sign Pedrinho has been completed, Sliema are expected to step up their pursuit of Aziz Corr-Nyang.

The Blues have declared their interest in Corr-Nyang, who last season was on the books of Valletta. However, passport issues are preventing the Gambian forward from travelling to Malta to finalise discussions.

Meanwhile, Hibernians forward Luis Edison ‘Tarabai’ is still attracting interest from a South Korean club.

As reported in The Sunday Times of Malta recently, Edison, the Premier League’s leading scorer with 20 goals, had received an offer from an unnamed South Korean club.

For a time, it looked as though Edison was going to stay put but sources told Times of Malta yesterday that his overseas suitors are prepared to offer Hibernians a substantial fee to take the Bra-zilian on a loan deal with an option to make his transfer move permanent.

Although Hibs are reluctant to lose one of their best players, it is understood that they are mulling over a proposal to let Edison join the South Korean club on a short-term loan move in March.

The Paolites are favourites to win the BOV Premier League title for the first time in six years as they currently enjoy a 15-point lead at the top of the standings.

Stripes close in on Dutchman Maachi

Birkirkara, level with Valletta in second place on 37 points, are close to securing the services of a new striker.

Nassir Maachi arrived in Malta on Tuesday to finalise his move to the Stripes after the 29-year-old Dutchman was identified by coach Paul Zammit as his no.1 target to replace Liliu.

The Brazilian, Birkirkara’s leading scorer in the Premier League with 12 goals, has been ruled out for the rest of the season after injuring his anterior cruciate ligament in the 5-1 win over Mosta earlier this month.

Maachi’s CV features spells with a clutch of Dutch clubs, including Utrecht, Dordrecth and PEC Zwolle as well as a two-year stint with AEK Larnaca in Cyprus where he played until May of last year.

The Dutch forward completed the first part of his medical yesterday and, barring unforeseen complications, should sign a deal with Birkirkara in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Birkirkara are also hoping to reach an agreement with Qormi for the transfer of defender Mauricio Latini Mazzetti.

Discussions between the two clubs are on-going as Qormi are interested in re-signing winger Leighton Grech who has also been linked with Floriana.

After bringing in a raft of reinforcements in the first week of the January transfer window, namely goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo, midfielders Paltemio Barbetti and Kurt Zammit and English striker Rashid Yussuf, Premier League strugglers Żebbuġ Rangers are now looking to strengthen their defensive lines.

Two foreign defenders are expected to join the team for a trial early next week.

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