Goalkeeper Yenz Cini (centre) will be spending the rest of the season at Gudja United.

Valletta are expected to bring in three new foreign players during the January transfer window as they look to keep their fading title hopes alive during the second part of the season.

The BOV Premier League champions are in the process of refreshing their squad following a rather disappointing opening half of the BOV Premier League which sees the Citizens trailing runaway leaders Hibs by a staggering 15 points.

Earlier this month, Valletta released Portuguese midfielder Hugo Faria, Cameroon striker Raphael Kooh-Sohna, Brazilian forward Alex Terra and Australian winger Adrian Zahra.

Valletta goalkeepers Yenz Cini and Manwel Bartolo are also on the way out after they agreed to move on loan elsewhere until the end of the season.

Cini will continue the 2013-14 season with Division One side Gudja United while Bartolo has agreed to join Premier League bottom club Żebbuġ Rangers.

Both Cini and Bartolo struggled for first-team football at Valletta this season with the former consigned to the role of understudy to Nicky Vella while Bartolo rarely featured in the 18-man squad.

The two keepers’ departure has left Vella as the only senior goalkeeper in Ivan Zammit’s squad and sources have told Times of Malta that the Citizens are currently engaged in negotiations to sign an Italian shot-stopper.

The same sources also said that Valletta are in advanced talks to sign an Argentine striker in the coming days while they are also mulling over the possibility of bringing over a foreign midfielder.

Denni, the former Valletta midfielder, will not be returning to the BOV Premier League next month after he agreed to join Iraqi club Zakho until the end of the season.

Elsewhere, Floriana are showing interest in Birkirkara winger Leighton Grech.

Grech has failed to break into the Stripes’ starting formation since joining them from Qormi.

The Greens are understood to have been in touch with Birkirkara to take the 24-year-old on loan next month but so far no agreement has been reached.

Pietà Hotspurs, who on Monday agreed to sell young midfielder Terrence Agius to Balzan, have now decided to take midfielder Jurgen Pisani off the market after the latter was attracting the interest of Naxxar Lions.

The Hotspurs, who earlier this month parted ways with Serbian midfielder Nikola Tasic and Brazilian striker Rafael Xavier, are currently giving a trial to a number of overseas players.

Ricardo Costa, the Brazilian midfielder who helped Pietà win promotion last season, could also return to the club but a final decision is expected next week.

Qormi yesterday strengthened their midfield department with the signing of Clifford Gauci from Żebbuġ Rangers.

The 22-year-old had failed to secure a regular place in the Rangers’ line-up, forcing him to opt for a move to neighbours Qormi.

Qormi, will have to ward off the interest from Birkirkara and Floriana to keep Mauricio Mazzetti.

The Argentine defender has been an inspirational figure for Qormi this season, attracting the attention of other clubs.