It was another busy day in the local transfer market yesterday as Premier League clubs upped their efforts to secure the services of their top targets ahead of the start of the 2011/12 season.

Inevitably, given Valletta’s resourceful squad, a host of top-flight clubs have set their sights on the Citizens’ fringe players.

Ħamrun Spartans have com-pleted arguably their most signi-ficant transfer move this summer as they have agreed terms to sign Valletta midfielder Kevin Sammut on loan for one year.

Sammut is known to have been willing to join the Spartans after concluding that a loan switch would suit his career in light of his limited first-team opportunities with the Malta champions.

Jesmond Zammit, the former team manager of Valletta now Ħamrun coach, has been at the heart of the Reds’ quest to agree a loan deal for Sammut.

This week, he revealed that the Spartans were closing in on a top Maltese attacking midfielder but stopped short of divulging his name.

Sammut, who had another loan spell with Ħamrun in the early years of his career, is regarded by Zammit as the ideal player to spearhead his midfield where he will most likely partner German Heiner Backhaus, another former City player.

The Malta midfielder is expected to make his debut in tomorrow’s pre-season warm-up against Qormi at the Centenary Stadium.

Another Valletta player, Ian Zammit, is also on the move.

The former Malta U-21 striker yesterday finalised a one-year loan move to Mosta after fruitful talks involving the player, Valletta president Victor Sciriha and Jeffrey Farrugia, Mosta’s technical director.

Like Sammut, Zammit, 24, has elected to join a new club in search of regular football after falling down the pecking order at Valletta.

The arrival of three new strikers, namely, Michael Mifsud, Alfred Effiong and William Barbosa, further increased the competition for places in City’s attack.

Cleaven Frendo, also of Valletta, had also been widely tipped to join Mosta on loan but the winger has turned his back on the Blues after being approached by Sliema.

The 26-year-old has already agreed personal terms with Sliema who were still engaged in dis-cussions with Valletta over Frendo’s move late yesterday.

Although Valletta have focused their attention on reducing the size of their squad in the past few days, the champions made a surprise move yesterday after completing the signing of Matthew Towns.

The English goalkeeper had been expected to extend his stay with Floriana but the latter decided to part company with the former Macclesfield Town shot-stopper this week.

The 29-year-old didn’t have to wait long to find a new club as Sciriha immediately declared an interest in Towns after learning of his availability.

Towns, who has inked a two-year contract, will compete for the no.1 shirt with Andrew Hogg and the up-and-coming Yenz Cini.

Another leading player who is likely to change club in the coming days is Clayton Failla.

Sources said that the Wanderers have decided to sell the wing-back who last January was linked with a return to Hibernians.

Meanwhile, Sliema are expected to be without Alex Muscat for their Premier League opener against Hibernians after the flank defender dislocated his shoulder in the final friendly during a pre-season training camp in Bulgaria, a 3-1 defeat to Gotse Delchev.

Muscat, who missed most of last season after undergoing cruciate surgery, has virtually been ruled out of Malta’s home friendly against the Central African Republic on Wednesday as he is sidelined for three weeks.

On their part, Balzan Youths are close to confirming their foreign quartet for the new season.

Brazilian playmaker Pedrinho, who was outstanding during the Hibs Tournament, has already been confirmed while Hungarian striker Daniel Sibalin has signed a contract after positive discussions with Balzan Youths FC president George Borg.

The Division One champions have also been impressed with the performances of Albanian defender Bledion Guga.

Fixture schedule

The MFA yesterday issued the fixture schedule for the 2011/12 national leagues.

Birkirkara and Qormi will lift the curtains on the new BOV Premier League season when they meet in the opening match at the National Stadium on August 19.

Opening programme
August 19 (National Stadium): 6.30 p.m. Birkirkara vs Qormi; 8.30 p.m. Sliema vs Hibernians.
August 20 (Hibs Stadium): 6.30 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Mosta; 8.30 p.m. Floriana vs Mqabba.
August 21 (National Stadium): 6.30 p.m. Balzan vs Ħamrun; 8.30 p.m. Valletta vs Tarxien.