Vladimir Savicevic, the son of former Milan stalwart Dejan Savicevic, is poised to continue his career in Maltese football.
Savicevic has long declared his willingness to try a new experience in a foreign league and well-placed sources have told Times of Malta that the Montenegrin midfielder is open to the idea of pursuing a move to a Maltese club.
Savicevic, who has spent his entire career with Mladost Podgorica in his home country, is expected to arrive in Malta on Monday with a view to holding talks with his potential suitors.
The word is that Valletta are one of the clubs who could make an approach for the midfielder. Savicevic’s legal adviser in Malta is Lucio Sciriha, the son of former Rabat Ajax president Michael Sciriha and nephew of Victor Sciriha, the Valletta FC president.
Contacted by Times of Malta last night, Lucio Sciriha declined to comment.
The 25-year-old Savicevic has been striving to make a name for himself but he has not had an easy ride so far as, like all the sons of famous sportsmen, he has had to cope with the added burden of being compared with his father Dejan who is widely acclaimed as the best Montenegrin player of all time.
In an interview with uefa.com a few years back, Savicevic said: “I am only trying to be Vladimir but in Montenegro I will always be Dejan’s son.
“I am proud of my dad but it’s not easy, believe me. Even when I play well I always hear comments that I am not as good as my father was. I know that very well.
“I know I can’t be as good as my father but I will give everything I can to get as close as possible.”
Dejan Savicevic, who won the European Cup with Red Star Belgrade and Milan, has been at the helm of the Montenegro FA since 2004.
If Savicevic junior does secure a move to a Maltese club, he will be following in the footsteps of Jordi Cruyff, the son of Dutch legend Johan Cruyff who spent one year with Valletta in season 2009-10.
Valletta, the reigning Maltese champions, are looking to strengthen their squad with the acquisition of new foreigners.
They have had many players on trial in recent weeks but convincing coach Ivan Zammit to offer them a deal is proving a difficult task.
Zammit is currently running the rule over an Argentine striker, Gonzalo Ucha, and a Nigerian forward.
Meanwhile, Hibernians have received a formal bid for Luis Edison ‘Tarabai’ from a South Korean club.
As reported by Times of Malta yesterday, the BOV Premier League leaders are evaluating the proposal from the unnamed South Korean club who have offered a lucrative sum to sign the Brazilian forward on a season-long loan.
Edison, who was courted by a club from Oman last summer, currently heads the Premier League scoring charts with 20 goals.
Qormi not keeping Serbian duo
Elsewhere, Premier League strugglers Qormi have decided not to retain Serbian players Zoran Vujovic and forward Aleksandar Stojmirovic who joined the team for a trial late last week.
Coach Josef Mansueto has also told Brazilian forward Paulinho that he doesn’t have a future at the club but Marcelinho, who has been training with Qormi for the past few weeks, is likely to be given a contract.
The Yellow-Blacks yesterday signed Nigerian midfielder Uzeh Edafe, who was released by Naxxar Lions earlier this month.
Qormi are still in talks with Birkirkara to sign winger Leighton Grech. The two clubs are believed to be discussing a swap deal as the Stripes have long declared their interest in Argentine defender Maurizio Mazzetti who joined Qormi in the close season.
A Swedish defender was expected to start a trial with Qormi yesterday.
For their part, Birkirkara have completed the signing of Nassir Maachi.
The 29-year-old Dutch striker has joined the Stripes until the end of the season with an option to extend the deal for another year.
Birkirkara will hope that Maachi, who last played for AEK Larnaca in Cyprus, will prove an adequate replacement for Brazilian forward Liliu who is out for the rest of the season.
Pietà Hotspurs, second from bottom in the BOV Premier League, are also engaged in efforts to bolster their squad.
The Hotspurs have reached an agreement to re-sign Brazilian midfielder-cum-forward Ricardo Costa, who is due to arrive in Malta on Sunday.
The relegation strugglers are also expected to offer a contract to 29-year-old Nigerian forward Charles Nnaemeka Newuche.
PLSC meeting
Another meeting of the Premier League Standing Committee (PLSC) was held on Wednesday.
The proposal to raise the foreigners’ quota to eight (on the pitch) and the hard-hitting statements made by Malta FA integrity officer Franz Tabone in his last newsletter were among the subjects discussed by the PLSC.