Mifsud seals loan move to Barnsley

Michael Mifsud put the finishing touches on his loan switch from Coventry City to Barnsley yesterday. He reported for his first training session with the Tykes in the morning after inking a deal that will keep him at the club until the end of the season.

The final day of the transfer window was hectic but productive for Barnsley as they also completed the loan signings of Fulham's Andranik Teymourian and Liverpool's Adam Hammill.

Barnsley, who last week captured Malta striker Daniel Bogdanovic from Bulgarian club Lokomotiv Sofia, emerged as surprise favourites to snap up Mifsud at the end of last week amid reports that Coventry City had accepted their bid for the quicksilver forward.

Mifsud and his agent met with Barnsley manager Simon Davey and other club officials to discuss the move but for a time on Saturday, reports in the English media claimed that the deal had been shelved.

However, Mifsud, whose contract at the Ricoh Arena was due to expire in June, requested time to reflect on Barnsley's offer and gave his nod to the deal late on Sunday night after all parties settled on a loan agreement.

Mifsud, who had joined the Sky Blues on a free transfer from Norwegian club Lillestrom in January 2007, revealed that he had turned down the chance to pursue his career in Spain in order to sign for Barnsley.

"I spent two days at the club talking to Simon Davey and Don Rowing and looking at the facilities," he told the club's official website yesterday.

"I had the chance to join other Championship clubs and had strong La Liga interest, but the important thing is to get the chance to play in a direct attacking role."

In announcing Mifsud's loan signing, Barnsley's website said: "Initially, the Reds had hoped to sign Michael on a three-year deal but with the transfer window drawing to a close and the level of interest from rival clubs, the club decided to change its tack to a loan arrangement."

Mifsud also confirmed that he had been on the verge of signing a permanent deal but asked for more time to think it through.

"Now I can't wait to get playing and help the team move forward," Mifsud, who is expected to make his debut in today's league clash with Sheffield Wednesday, was quoted as saying by BBC.

Mifsud's move to Barnsley now raises the appetising prospect, from a local perspective, of two Maltese forwards establishing an attacking tandem for the rest of the season.

Mifsud and Bogdanovic are both expected to be included in Malta's squad for this month's World Cup 2010 qualifier at home to Albania.