Valletta have opened contract discussions with Hamza Barry (right). Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

Valletta have initiated talks with Gambian midfielder Hamza Barry over a new contract.

Barry has been in scintillating form since rejoining the champions after his proposed move to Tunisian club Esperance fell through last summer.

With Barry’s two-year deal running out at the end of the season, Valletta, led by president Victor Sciriha, are keen to hold on to the versatile midfielder who turned 20 in October.

Sources have told Times of Malta that the extension of Barry’s contract is top of Valletta’s priority list and preliminary talks between the two parties have already taken place.

After signing for Valletta in the summer of 2013, Barry quickly forged a reputation as one of the most talented foreigners in the BOV Premier League. His performances this season suggest that the Gambia international has taken his game to another level.

It is understood that Barry has settled nicely in Malta and is happy at Valletta.

Given a free role on the wing by coach Ivan Zammit, Barry is also demonstrating his scoring prowess, netting eight goals in the Premier League, including a double in Valletta’s 3-2 comeback win over Qormi last Saturday.

Valletta are also expected to open contract discussions with mid-fielder and captain Ryan Fenech and defender Jonathan Caruana as their current deals expire at the end of the season.

After releasing all foreign players they signed last summer, namely Raphael Kooh Sohna, Hugo Faria, Alex Terra and Adrian Zahra, the champions are looking to recruit new overseas players during this month’s transfer window.

Italian goalkeeper Pietro Marino arrived in Malta yesterday after agreeing to rejoin the Citizens.

Coach Zammit is currently assessing the qualities of young English striker David Moli, who was part of the Liverpool Academy, and an Italian midfielder.

An Argentine striker is expected to join Valletta for a short trial in the coming days.

Floriana are also keen to fine-tune their squad in order to strengthen their push for a top-four finish.

At present, the Greens are giving a trial to two Japanese players, midfielder Ren Mizugashira and striker Yoshiki Otsuki.

Club president Riccardo Gaucci has strong contacts in Asian football stemming back from the time when Perugia, then owned by his father Luciano, signed Hidetoshi Nakata, one of the best Japenese players of all time, way back in 1998.

It is believed that another two Japanese players and possibly one from Italy will be joining Floriana for a trial in the coming weeks.

The Greens are hoping to resolve the future of highly-rated forward Igor Coronado in the coming weeks.

Coronado, 22, is still on the books of Floriana but the Brazilian has been plagued by a nagging groin injury this season.

Floriana have also been linked with a move for Qormi’s Argentine defender Maurizio Mazzetti and are interested in Birkirkara winger Leighton Grech.

Elsewhere, Naxxar Lions have reportedly enquired about the possibility of signing Alfred Effiong but Qormi are not interested in parting with the Nigerian striker who is hoping to acquire Maltese citizenship over the coming months.

Meanwhile, Birkirkara received the news they did not want to hear as yesterday it was confirmed that striker Ellinton ‘Liliu’ Antonio Costas Morais had damaged his cruciate ligaments.

Liliu was injured during last weekend’s 5-1 victory over Mosta at the Hibs Stadium.

The Brazilian will have surgery on his knee and is expected to stay out of the game for several weeks, making it unlikely for him to play again this season.