Marsaxlokk close to sealing Bajada's move

Marsaxlokk are optimistic that their on-going discussions with Floriana over the transfer of Shaun Bajada will lead to an agreement sooner rather than later.

Bajada, a key member of Mark Miller's Malta U-21 squad, has been on Marsaxlokk's wishlist for several weeks as the southerners scrutinised the local market in their bid to bring in reinforcements during the January transfer window.

Rumours that Bajada, 21, has set his heart on a move elsewhere look to have intensified Marsaxlokk's determination to sign the player before the end of this month.

Contacted by The Times yesterday, Victor Sciriha, the Marsaxlokk president, sounded very confident in his club's chances of finalising Bajada's move before tomorrow's Premier League clash with Lija Athletic at the National Stadium.

"We have virtually concluded talks with Floriana for Shaun Bajada and our aim now is to finalise his transfer as soon as possible," Sciriha said.

The Marsaxlokk boss, the chief architect behind the club's rise to the upper reaches of Maltese football, has been very active during this month's transfer window.

Two new foreign players, Bulgarian Mitko Trendafilov and Nigerian striker Michael Emeka Ochei, signed contracts with Marsaxlokk earlier this month to fill the void left by Minabo Asechemie and Dragomir Draganov.

In the opening days of the January football sales, Sciriha was also in the limelight after he agreed to part company with Etienne Barbara who chose to move to Birkirkara.

According to Sciriha, who is also looking to capture another overseas player to replace Stanimir Georgiev, Bajada will sign a four-and-a-half-year contract with Marsaxlokk.

A Floriana official confirmed that they have been in discussion with Marsaxlokk over Bajada but distanced himself from reports that the two parties have struck a deal.

Graham Bencini joins Ghajnsielem

Meanwhile, Graham Bencini has become the latest Maltese player to pledge his immediate future to a Gozitan club.

The 26-year-old defender, a former Malta U-21 international, yesterday signed for Ghajnsielem till the end of this season after he succeeded in obtaining his release from Floriana.

At Ghajnsielem, who are in the hunt for the Gozo Division One title, Bencini will team up with a host of former Premier League players, the likes of David Carabott, Daniel Bogdanovic, Congo goalkeeper Daniel Dengaky, and his ex-Floriana team-mate, Brazilian Edoardo Do Nascimento.

Lija Athletic are seeking to terminate the contract of Bulgarian midfielder Svetlin Spasov after his uninspired performances in his first outings for the struggling Premier League club. Daddy Okeke, Lija's Nigerian defender, is also attracting interest from some Gozitan clubs.