Italian Serie B club targeting Mifsud?

Sliema Wanderers and Marsaxlokk may become embroiled in a bidding war for Michael Mifsud if he returns to Maltese football come January but they could also face competition from abroad.

Although Mifsud is being strongly tempted to seek a premature termination to his Kaiserslautern contract and return to the comfort of Maltese football, he has not made up his mind as to where his immediate future lies.

Sources close to the Kaiserslautern striker yesterday told The Times that the 22-year-old Malta international, who is back in Germany after spending a week in Malta, is also attracting interest from other foreign clubs, including one from Italy.

It is believed that officials from an unidentified Serie B club have been monitoring Mifsud's situation closely with a view to stepping up their interest if he becomes available in January or at the end of the current season.

Contacted by The Times, Mifsud would neither confirm nor reject such reports, insisting that he is still bound to Kaiserslautern.

Last week, Marsaxlokk FC president Victor Sciriha revealed that he had already discussed terms with Mifsud over a move to the southerners.

The Wanderers, Mifsud's former club, are also interested in taking him back on board and have the first option on the player as stipulated in the contract he signed with Kaiserslautern.

Mifsud is currently recovering from a thigh injury he suffered while playing in the amateur league. His short stay here last week led to more speculation about his imminent return to Maltese football but Mifsud has not even raised the matter for discussion with his current employers.

Widely regarded as Malta's brightest football prospect since the emergence of Carmel Busuttil, Mifsud's move to Bundesliga club Kaiserslautern in 2001 suggested that he would make it to big time.

Mifsud weighed in with some significant goals last season, raising hopes that he would see more first-team action this season. Things did not quite turn out that way for Mifsud who was pushed down the pecking order by the arrival of new players and has rarely figured for the team in the Bundesliga this season

'January sales'

Meanwhile, the three-week hiatus from Premier League football has given clubs not just the chance to recharge their batteries for the second round commitments but to fine-tune their transfer plans before the 'January sales'.

Birkirkara are preparing another foray into the transfer market at the start of the year with Mauro Brincat and goalkeeper Ivan Casha, both of Hamrun Spartans, on their wanted list.

Jamie Pace, currently on the books of champions Sliema Wanderers, has also been mentioned in Birkirkara circles.

Having recently been called up to train with the national squad despite the paucity of first-team action, Pace is believed to be keen on joining a new club.

Pietà Hotspurs, with whom Pace showed his best football especially after the arrival of Ray Farrugia as coach, are also likely to make a bold effort to get him back if Sliema decide to release him.

However, Pietà, who may also re-ignite interest in Valletta midfielder Sharlon Pace in January, would have to wait until next summer to re-sign Jamie Pace. MFA rules bar players from moving back to the club that had authorised their release at the start of the season.

Valletta are also believed to be keen on Jamie Pace.

Marsaxlokk are looking to tie up the loose ends of Minabo Asechemie's transfer from Marsa. The Nigerian, a peripheral figure in Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Hamrun in the FA Trophy, was on the verge of joining Marsaxlokk last summer only for the deal to collapse after the clubs failed to complete the transfer before the MFA deadline.

Sciriha has said that he has already sorted out personal terms with Asechemie and all that remains is for his club to finalise negotiations with Marsa.

According to well-placed sources, Marsaxlokk will also pursue interest in Brincat, Claude Mattocks and Carlo Mamo when the transfer window re-opens in six weeks' time.