GENOA, ITALY - MARCH 2: Alberto Grassi of Empoli (3rd from left) celebrates with his team-mates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between Genoa and Empoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on March 2, 2025 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
GENOA, ITALY - MARCH 2: Alberto Grassi of Empoli (3rd from left) celebrates with his team-mates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between Genoa and Empoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on March 2, 2025 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)

Serie A newcomers Cremonese are bringing in Giuseppe Pezzella and Alberto Grassi, but could also get another former Empoli player in the form of Youssef Maleh from Lecce.

They were the last club to book their spot in the top flight for the 2025-26 campaign, having gone through the play-offs to join Sassuolo and Pisa in the 20-team division.

Under new coach Davide Nicola, the Grigiorossi are working to consolidate their squad with more experience this summer.

They particularly seem to be focused on the former Empoli players who were relegated last term.

Grassi, Pezzella and Maleh ready for Cremonese

TURIN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 26: Youssef Maleh of Empoli celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates during the Coppa Italia Quarter Final match between Juventus FC and Empoli FC at Allianz Stadium on February 26, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 26: Youssef Maleh of Empoli celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates during the Coppa Italia Quarter Final match between Juventus FC and Empoli FC at Allianz Stadium on February 26, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

As we had already exclusively confirmed, Grassi was given the all-clear for a permanent transfer, which was completed at the weekend.

Pezzella is next in line, as the left-back will have his medical tests tomorrow for another sale.

Up on the horizon is Maleh, who spent the last two seasons on loan at Lecce, returning to the Stadio Via del Mare this summer.

The negotiations for the midfielder are going to take a little longer to finalise, but they are well on the way to an agreement for the player who turns 27 next month.

Alfredo Pedullà

ByAlfredo Pedullà

Alfredo is one of the most highly respected football journalists in Italy, breaking many of the biggest transfer news stories, interviewing the very best players and managers and presenting his analysis on numerous football programmes on Italian television.

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