Reds eye double defensive signing
Ħamrun Spartans have decided to give a trial to former Roma striker Seidou Doumbia, the Times of Malta can confirm.
The Spartans are enjoying a fine season. Sunday’s come-from-behind 3-1 win over Mosta has catapulted them two points clear at the top of the Premier League standings and are seen by many as genuine contenders for this season’s title crown.
The Reds are keen to further bolster their squad and are looking to bring in a quality forward to add more depth to their forward line.
Sources have told the Times of Malta that the Spartans have been handed the opportunity to run the rule over the 33-year-old Doumbia.
The Ivory Coast forward is expected to arrive in Malta later on this week and if he leaves a good impression on coach Mark Buttigieg and his assistant Stefan Sultana, it is likely that he will be offered a contract until the end of the season.
Doumbia has enjoyed a high-profile career that has seen him establish himself as an exciting forward during his spell at Russian giants CSKA Moscow.
His performances in Russia earned him a move to Serie A side Roma but he failed to leave his mark in the Italian capital and returned to CSKA Sofia.
Doumbia then moved to the English Premier League at Newcastle before heading to Switzerland where he played for FC Basel before returning for a second spell at Roma.
In 2018, he moved to Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon before he headed to Girona in Spain and back to Switzerland where he signed for FC Sion.
Doumbia is not the only former FC Sion player who could be heading to Ħamrun Spartans this month.
In fact, the Reds are also in talks to sign Brazilian defender Raphael Rossi.
The 30-year-old is understood to have agreed a deal in principal with the Spartans and the Reds are hopeful to have him in Malta in the next week.
Rossi started his career in Porto Alegre in Brazil and headed to English football in 2011 where he joined Brighton.
The centre-back also had a spell with Swindon Town before he headed to Portugal where he signed for Boavista.
In 2018, Rossi moved to Sion, in Switzerland’s top division, where he made ten appearances and scoring one goal.
Ħamrun Spartans’ transfer activity is unlikely to stop here.
Dielna to start trial
In fact, on Monday afternoon French defender Claude Dielna is set to start a trial with the Reds.
Contrary to reports, Dielna has not been offered a contract yet but will be handed a deal should he convince coach Mark Buttigieg and his assistant Stefan Sultana this week.
Dielna has played in several countries throughout his career as he was on the books of Greek side Olympiakos, Slovan Bratislava, of Slovakia, and England’s Sheffield Wednesday among others.He also had a spell in the American MLS where he played for New England Revolution and Portland Timbers.
Last season, he was on the books of Romanian side Universitae Craiova.
