Sliema Wanderers are in talks with champions Hibernians over the transfer of unsettled striker Terrence Scerri, Blues president Steve Abela told The Times yesterday.

Scerri, the Premier League's top scorer last season with 26 goals, is eager to seek pastures new after falling out with the Hibs hierarchy. The towering forward, who missed both legs of Hibs' Champions League defeat to Montenegro's FK Mogren, was hit with a 28-day club suspension last week.

"Terrence Scerri is our top target at the moment," Abela said.

"We have spoken with Hibs officials but no agreement has been reached so far. The transfer fee Hibs are asking for Scerri is beyond us and we are trying to include some players in the deal.

"Hibs are interested in Miguel Ciantar but we have no intention of parting ways with him."

Meanwhile, Birkirkara are still searching high and low for a foreign goalkeeper. Paul Zammit, the Birkirkara coach, is known to have made contact with the agents of a number of British goalkeepers with a view to bringing some of them for a trial.

Andrew McNeil is the latest name to appear on Zammit's radar. McNeil, 22, is available on a free transfer after leaving Scottish club Hibernian at the end of last season.

The Stripes have also been in negotiations with Msida St Joseph over the transfer of Tyrone Farrugia but they've been unable to tie up a deal for the Malta U-21 captain so far.

Shaun Bajada, Birkirkara's international wing-back, could miss the start of the season due to a knee problem. Bajada has reportedly aggravated an injury he picked up during Malta's 3-0 defeat to Hungary in a World Cup qualifier in April.

For their part, Marsaxlokk have acquired Martin Deanov from Pietà Hotspurs and Gudja goalkeeper Glenn Zammit who was on loan with Floriana last season.

Ben Lumineau, a French striker, was expected to arrive in Malta last night ahead of a trial with Marsaxlokk.

Oliver Spiteri has been named coach of Division One club Mosta. Spiteri, who was previously in charge of Malta's U-17 squad, has already brought in a host of young players as Mosta signed Kane Paul Farrugia from Sliema Wanderers and David Cauchi, formerly of Mellieħa.

Birkirkara youngster Luke Stivala, Terence Vella, the Gudja forward who played for Pietà last season, and Melvin Farrugia (Żebbuġ) have also joined Mosta on loan.

Schembri on target

Malta forward Andrè Schembri scored his first goal for Austria Kaernten on Sunday but his strike was not enough to prevent his team going down to their second successive league defeat at the hands of Kapfenberg.

Schembri had temporarily put his team level at 1-1 on 36 minutes but Kapfenberg took the spoils after winning 3-2.

Kaernten are away to Rapid Vienna in their next league match on Sunday.

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