Obinna Obiefule is set to leave Hibs without making an official appearance for the team after the Nigerian striker agreed a short-term loan move to Chinese club Herbin Yiteng FC.
The Paolites had high hopes that the arrival of a proven scorer like Obiefule would boost their title bid when they signed him from Mosta last month.
But in the last few weeks, Herbin Yiteng have stepped up their interest in the 25-year-old who reportedly included a clause in the 18-month contract he signed with Hibs allowing him to leave if he received a concrete offer from an overseas club.
Obiefule travelled to China earlier this month to conclude talks with Herbin Yiteng who have reached an agreement with Hibs to sign the player on loan ahead of the start of the 2013 championship which kicks off in March.
Since establishing himself as one of the leading scorers in the Premier League, Obiefule had been widely tipped to continue his career overseas amid reports that a host of clubs were monitoring his progress.
Last summer, Obiefule, who set a new Premier League record in 2011-12 after scoring 34 goals for Marsaxlokk and Mosta, was on the verge of joining an Algerian club but the deal fell through and the Nigerian returned to Mosta.
Former Lija defender Daddy Okeke, one of Obiefule’s advisors, played a key role in the discussions that eventually led to the Nigerian agreeing a loan move to Herbin Yiteng, who play in the second tier of Chinese football.
Two Israeli clubs, Hapoel Beer Sheva and Hapoel Ramat-Gan, were also targeting Obiefule. Both sent letters to Mosta FC seeking permission to host Obiefule for a few training sessions followed by medical tests.
Another club that showed a firm interest in Obiefule were Inter Baku, of Azerbaijan.
Elsewhere, a video showing former Valletta striker Frank Temile brawling with Dynamo Kiev team-mate Dmitry Korkishko during a training session, has become an instant hit on the internet.
Korkishko appeared to have started the fight when he slapped the Nigerian in the face after the two had exchanged words.
Temile’s reaction was furious, throwing a flurry of punches at Korkishko as the two fell to the ground before being pulled apart by their team-mates.
The incident has made international headlines with English tabloid The Sun reporting the bust-up under the headline ‘Kickin’ Kiev’ while the video of the punch-up was also posted on the websites of Italian newspapers La Repub-blica and Il Corriere dello Sport as well as the Mediaset website.
The 22-year-old Temile, who set Maltese football alight in the only season he spent with Valletta when he was still a teenager, is approaching the end of his five-year contract with Dynamo Kiev, one of the most popular clubs in Ukraine.
Pedrinho, Elton set for Balzan exit
Meanwhile, sources have told The Times that Brazilian players Pedrinho and Elton are expected to leave Premier League club Balzan with immediate effect.
News of their imminent exit came only a day after Balzan produced a low-key performance in a 1-0 defeat to Qormi in the U*Bet FA Trophy quarter-finals.
After reaching an agreement with Balzan officials to terminate their contracts, Pedrinho and Elton are eyeing a move to a Brazilian club and both are expected to fly out to their native country in the coming days.
Balzan’s decision to part ways with Pedrinho and Elton is likey to be met with surprise in many quarters as the Brazilians were arguably their two best players.
Widely regarded as one of the most skilful playmakers in the Premier League, Pedrinho was on the brink of signing for Valletta last month but the deal collapsed after the two clubs failed to agree terms for his transfer.
Elton, who joined Balzan in the close season, is the leading scorer in the Premier League with 14 goals.