DPMM FC's search for a marquee signing for the upcoming Singapore League (S-League) continues with several big names expected to arrive in the country for trials.
According to the club's official website, former Borussia Dortmund forward Euzebiusz Smolarek will be given the opportunity for a try-out with the club while ex-Sampdoria striker Ikechukwu Kalu is currently in the Sultanate, according to a source from inside the club.
32-year-old Smolarek played for Dutch Eredivisie side Feyenoord (2000-2005), Spanish La Liga's Racing Santander (2007-2009) and English Premier League's Bolton Wanderers (2008-2009).
The Poland international was the top scorer in the UEFA Euro 2008 Group A qualifying campaign, scoring nine goals to beat Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo (eight goals).
Meanwhile, Nigerian international Kalu, who was signed by Sampdoria in 2002, capped only two-times for his country and failed to score any goals.
The club last week announced that defender Boric Raspudic from Bosnia, midfielders Roberto Alviz from Croatia and Joe Gamble from Ireland will be lacing up for the club next season, with their manager Ali Hj Momin saying that the contract signings will follow soon for the three players.
Brazilian Rodrigo Tosi will also be given a contract extension.
The DPMM FC manager, in a recent interview with The Brunei Times, has made no secret of their intention of acquiring the club's marquee signing this season.
"Boric Raspudic, Roberto Alviz and Joe Gamble have impressed the club during the two-week trial, and now there is one spot left for marquee signing and I hope that we will be able to seal all the deals before the season (S-League) starts," said the manager.
DPMM FC were linked with a move for the former Arsenal and Everton striker Francis Jeffers previously but the club made it clear that there has been no deal made between the club and the player's representative.
Raspudic, Alviz and Gamble arrived in the Sultanate on Nov 24 and were joined in trials by Daniel Orozco Alvarez, Daryll Roberts, Jeffers, Guillaume Moullec, Laryea Kingston, Mathias Abel, Osas Ikpefua, and Shavar Thomas.
Steve Kean, the former manager of Blackburn Rovers. will be leading the Sultanate's only professional club this season, following the departure of Croatian Vjeran Simunic.
DPMM FC finished runners-up in 2012 in their best season in the S-League, winning the League Cup for a second time.
They only managed an eighth-place finish in this year's edition of the competition.
