Valletta and Marsaxlokk have both expressed their interest in signing Birkirkara and national team defender Kenneth Scicluna.

The citizens need to fill in the void left by Serbian defender Branko Nisevic. They see Scicluna as the best possible replacement in the circumstances, but they will have to beat Marsaxlokk over this issue.

The champions, in fact, still have a problem to solve. It is known that their international defender Luke Dimech is once again interested in playing in England and if he receives a good offer, it will be no surprise were he to remain abroad.

In the meantime, Marsaxlokk are seeking his substitute in case Dimech decides to stay away from the island. And they are also eyeing Scicluna as the ideal substitute.

It is still to be seen, however, whether Birkirkara are prepared to part company with their most experienced defender.

It is reliably understood that Scicluna is keen on a move away from the Stripes who have already snapped up Lee Lombardi from Sliema.

In the meantime, Valletta’s Branko Nisevic is now looking for another club after failing to accept a new offer by the citizens.

Floriana, and possibly Birkirkara, are thought to be interested, especially if he is to apply for a Maltese passport.

Another player in the news, as already published in The Malta Independent, is Msida striker Ibrahim Babatunde, of Nigeria.

He is a prime target of Valletta FC, but it has also been reported that Sliema W. and Birkirkara are also interested in his services. It is still to be seen where he will eventually go.

The Nigerian striker has formed a fearful partnership with Daniel Nwoke, another Nigerian striker on the books of Msida, in the past two seasons.

Another foreigner, Italian Mauro Di Lello, has not yet joined his team-mates for pre-season training and the club has not yet made any contact with him, according to club secretary John Bugeja.

Speaking on Smash TV, Bugeja said the Italian defender had disappointed the club, adding that the player's contract still had two more years to expire. He did not exclude the possibility that the player might be seeking a return home or play for a different club, but Bugeja also said that Sliema wanted to meet him or his agent.

National team goalkeeper Justin Haber’s new club in Greece is Hajdari FC which plays in the second division.

The Malta Independent announced earlier this week that Haber would be moving to Greece next season and this would be his fourth club abroad in the last few years.

His first experience was in Bulgaria, then he played in France and Belgium before this Greece commitment. In Malta, he started his career at Floriana, but also played for Birkirkara and Marsaxlokk.

Marsa FC, just relegated from the Premier League, have announced that Jimmy Briffa is their new coach.

Briffa, who coached Lija Athletic last season, will be eyeing a quick return to the Premier League.

The former Sliema and Malta player, has vast experience in the coaching sector. In fact, he has coached several clubs in the past, among them St Andrew’s, Balzan and Floriana.

He takes over from Albanian Edmond Lufi, who has joined Hibernians as assistant coach to Robert Gatt, after Michael Woods was appointed St George's coach.