Movements in the January transfer window were few and far between this year with most of the movements being registered on loan– a clear signal that the clubs do not have the necessary funds to get the players for good.
Valletta, having passed through a difficult time in the first phase – they have not yet secured their place in the Championship Pool so far – were the most active on the market.
The first move was to terminate the contracts of their Nigerian foreigners Ndubuisi Chukunyere and Jerry Ani. These were a terrible flop and they have now been substituted by the more promising Argentine striker Sebastian Omar Monesterolo and English midfielder Craig Dean, even though the latter has had a bad start, earning a red card on his debut.
Valletta also registered the loan signing till the end of the season of Sliema and Malta flank midfielder Claude Mattocks, a former Floriana hero.
Current league leaders Birkirkara, the same as third placed Hibernians, have made no significant moves, preferring to hold on their current crop of players, though the Stripes have parted company, at least till the end of the season, with Chucks Nwoko.
Second placed Sliema added one player to their squad in the form of Malta Under 21 midfielder Roderick Bajada, who has joined them from Msida St Joseph.
Marsaxlokk were also expected to be very active during the month, but in actual fact, they have just one newcomer. And that is former Birkirkara midfielder Chucks Nwoko, who signed on loan till the end of the season. The deal seemed to have failed at one moment but, after some insistence, Marsaxlokk managed to meet Birkirkara’s demands and the move finally came to fruition.
Msida St Joseph have lost a precious midfielder in the form of Roderick Bajada and they have not signed anyone as a replacement, while they have managed to retain the services of goalkeeper Omar Borg and signing another, San Gwann’s Manuel Bartolo, as cover at the back.
Floriana managed to get back Rufin Oba among their ranks and he could be very useful in their midfield set-up.
Finally, Pieta have also brought over two new midfielders in the form of Filip Daniel Marius and Svetlan Kondev.