Michael Mifsud is leaning towards a return to Valletta after the latter declared their interest in re-signing the experienced striker.
Sources have told Times of Malta that Valletta have agreed personal terms with Mifsud but the deal will only go through once the 34-year-old obtains his release from Sliema Wanderers.
At the time of writing, Mifsud was still engaged in talks with Sliema Wanderers president Keith Perry to terminate his contract.
It is understood that Sliema want to bring in another striker to replace Mifsud before giving him the go-ahead to rejoin Valletta.
News that Valletta, the current BOV Premier League leaders, are prepared to take Mifsud back on board is likely to be met with a few raised eyebrows as the Malta captain has already had two separate spells with the club.
However, Valletta coach Paul Zammit is confident that Mifsud would be a useful addition to his squad, particularly in attack where the Whites are short of cover following the departure of Njongo Priso who is in discussions to join Turkish club Samsuspor.
Mifsud, whose fine strike in the 2-2 draw against Azerbaijan last September took his tally with the national team to a record-extending 40 goals, has shown glimpses of his old form recently.
The nippy striker, who rejoined Sliema Wanderers, his first club, in 2014, has scored eight goals in the BOV Premier League this season.
Zammit is hoping to finalise Mifsud’s signing today as that would give the club sufficient time to register the striker ahead of tomorrow’s FA Trophy clash with Birkirkara.
If Mifsud’s move goes through, Valletta are expected to allow Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza to join Għajnsielem, the leaders of the Gozo FA Division One league.
Apart from Mifsud, Valletta are also trying to sign Malta U-19 midfielder Jake Grech from Ħamrun Spartans. The two clubs have already opened discussions but no agreement has been reached.
Meanwhile, Floriana have announced that they have reached an agreement with former president Stephen Vaughan to end their legal wrangle over financial matters.
“Floriana FC and Stephen Vaughan reached a mutual agreement in which all pending issues between both parties have now been resolved and withdrawn,” the Premier League club said in a statement.
“This agreement has been reached after negotiations between Floriana FC club officials and Stephen Vaughan in which both parties expressed their good intentions to resolve all disputes for the general benefit of the club.”
The Vaughan family may have ended their association with Floriana but they want to revive their links with Maltese football.
Stephen Vaughan Jr and his father, who sponsored champions Hibernians last season, have sounded out Sliema Wanderers who are looking for new investors to boost the club’s financial stability.
Last week, Perry, the Sliema Wanderers president, also held talks with a group of investors, headed by an Italian who runs a renowned youth football academy in Rome.
Elsewhere, Birkirkara are still pursuing the signature of Alex Muscat from Sliema .
Hibs have reportedly stepped up their interest in goalkeeper Justin Haber who faces an uncertain future at Birkirkara following the arrival of Croatian Miroslav Kopric.
Giovanni Tedesco could be set for an immediate return to coaching as the Italian mentor is one of the leading candidates to replace Nicola Legrottaglie at Lega Pro club Akragas.
Legrottaglie, the former Juventus and Italy defender, stepped down from his post in the wake of Akragas’s 4-1 home defeat to Matera last weekend.
Tedesco was axed as Birkirkara coach last month following a 4-0 defeat to Valletta. If he lands the Akragas job, Tedesco, who led Floriana last season, will be reunited with former Birkirkara defender Zach Muscat who signed for the Sicilian club earlier this month.
Also in Italy, reports claim that Serie A clubs Chievo and Torino have set their sights on Igor Coronado.
The Brazilian playmaker has been a hit at Serie B club Trapani since his loan move from Floriana last summer, scoring three goals.
However, Trapani have said in a statement that they have no intention of selling Coronado in the current transfer window, also because they have yet to complete his acquisition from Floriana on a permanent basis.
Postponed games to be played on January 27
The Malta FA announced yesterday that the two BOV Premier League matches called off last weekend have now been rescheduled for Wednesday, January 27.
The matches – St Andrew’s vs Birkirkara and Balzan vs Qormi – were postponed due to the heavy rain on Saturday which rendered the pitch at the Hibs Stadium unplayable.
Tomorrow week, St Andrew’s play Birkirkara at 6pm while Balzan take on Qormi at 8pm. Both matches will be played at the National Stadium.
Women’s friendly – today
Malta vs Latvia 2.30pm
Venue: Centenary Stadium