Cameroonian striker Raphael Kooh-Sohna has parted ways with Pietà Hotspurs. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

Premier League newcomers Pietà Hotspurs are in the market for a striker after Cameroonian ace Raphael Kooh-Sohna turned down the club’s offer to sign a new contract.

Kooh-Sohna, 24, played a key role in helping Pietà to return to the BOV Premier League last season thanks to his scoring prowess. He was the top scorer in Division One with a staggering 28 goals.

The Hotspurs were keen to hold on to Kooh-Sohna and offered him new terms in the close season. However, discussions failed to lead to an agreement and the striker this week informed the Pietà committee that he will not be staying with the club next season.

News of Kooh-Sohna’s departure from the Hotspurs is likely to put Premier League clubs on alert as the striker is regarded as having all the attributes to excel in the top flight. Reports suggest that Kooh-Sohna is eager to continue his career overseas.

Pietà, who will again be led by coach Noel Coleiro, have parted ways with midfielder Cleaven Frendo and are engaged in contract talks with Nigeria-born striker Jerry Ani who formed part of their squad in the second part of last season.

Brazilian midfielder Ricardo Costa has agreed to extend his stay with Pietà for another season after he reached a verbal agreement with the club committee over a new contract.

Żebbuġ Rangers, the other promoted side, are also busy trying to strengthen their squad for the new season.

Coach Jesmond Zammit is closing in on Nigerian striker Obinna Obiefule who last season was on the books of Hibernians.

Talks between the two parties are at an advanced stage and Żebbuġ are hopeful that an agreement will be reached over the weekend.

Serbian midfielder Ratko Mandic has agreed a new one-year deal with the Rangers.

It has also emerged that Premier League club Qormi are set to name Josef Mansueto as their new head coach. Mansueto, who earned a reputation as one of the brightest coaches in the country during his stint with the Malta FA youth sector, served as assistant to Tommaso Volpi and, later, Karel Zeman at Qormi last season.

U-17 players on trial

Meanwhile, a host of young players who turned out for the Malta U-17 team at the UEFA U-17 Championship are having trials with Italian Serie B clubs.

Aidan Friggieri, the up-and-coming Sliema Wanderers striker who was voted among the top 10 players of the UEFA tournament, spent two days training with Pescara before having a short trial with Brescia yesterday.

The youth coaches at Brescia are also running the rule over Malta Under-17 goalkeeper Jamie Azzopardi, who is on the books of Rabat Ajax.

Jake Grech, who has already established himself as a first-team player for Ħamrun Spartans, now in Division Two, has just returned from a trial with Virtus Entella.