Birkirkara FC yesterday strengthened their squad with the acquisition of Italian Mauro Di Lello who joins the club for the next four months.
The former Pietà Hotspurs and Sliema Wanderers defender, a free agent, will be the fourth overseas player on the books of the 2008 FA Trophy winners and joins defenders Ronnie Hartvig, of Denmark, and Bulgarian duo Ivailo Sokolov and Krasev Valkov.
Di Lello, 30, has already started training with the Stripes and is expected to be in the squad for their next match against Ħamrun Spartans.
Sources told The Times that this week Birkirkara could further increase the options of coach John Buttigieg with the arrival of another Bulgarian forward who is due in Malta tomorrow.
According to MFA rules, Premier League clubs can sign more than three foreign players who hold an EU passport, but they can only name three in their starting line-up during a match.
Meanwhile, Valletta president Victor Sciriha yesterday denied the Malta champions were looking to offload Brazilian Paolo Massaro to make way for his compatriot Pedro Calcado, the unsettled Msida St Joseph striker. Massaro joined the Citizens this month.
Sciriha, however, admitted that midfielder Jonathan Bondin could leave the club on loan this week.
"Pedro Calcado is not in the plans of Valletta FC," Sciriha stressed.
"Our only involvement in the transfer market this week will be to deal on Jonathan Bondin. There were requests for a loan move to either Ħamrun Spartans or Qormi.
"We are currently engaged in talks with both clubs but no decision has been taken so far."
MFA suspensions
Four Premier League players were handed a one-match ban by the Malta FA Disciplinary Commissioner yesterday.
Ħamrun Spartans were the worst hit after having Fenech brothers Ryan and Roderick banned for one match. They will now miss Saturday's match against Birkirkara.
The Stripes will be without defender Joseph Zerafa who was also suspended for one match.
Marsaxlokk player Malcolm Licari was the other player on the suspensions list yesterday. He will now skip his team's match against Tarxien Rainbows on February 15.