Genoa's Striker Search: Taremi, Ferguson, and Lucca in Focus
Genoa’s search for a new No. 9 is turning into one of the more intriguing subplots of the late summer market, and a familiar Serie A face has now entered the frame.
Mehdi Taremi, fresh from a prolific season with Olympiacos and a World Cup campaign with Iran, is among the strikers being evaluated by Daniele De Rossi and the Genoa hierarchy. He is not at the top of their list, but his name is firmly on the table.
Ferguson still the priority – but time is a problem
Evan Ferguson remains the ideal profile for Genoa. De Rossi wants a powerful, modern centre-forward, and the Brighton striker ticks almost every box.
Talks over a loan from the Premier League club are moving, but slowly. The real obstacle is medical, not financial: Ferguson is still working his way back from ankle surgery, and the uncertainty over his exact return date is complicating Genoa’s plans. De Rossi cannot afford to open the season short in such a key position and simply hope the Irishman is ready in time.
That hesitation has forced the club to widen the search.
Lucca in focus as Genoa face Napoli
One of the most concrete alternatives is already in Serie A. Lorenzo Lucca, on the books at Napoli, is being seriously considered for a loan.
The timing is striking. Genoa face Napoli at Marassi this weekend, and Lucca’s situation will inevitably be part of the conversation around the game. The 23-year-old offers height, penalty-box presence and a more traditional reference point up front, a different profile to Ferguson but one that could still fit De Rossi’s plans.
Taremi in the mix, with competition
Into this picture steps Taremi. The Iranian forward hit 16 goals for Olympiacos last season after leaving Inter and then went on to feature at this summer’s World Cup, reinforcing his status as a proven scorer on big stages.
Genoa do not see him as their primary target. Ferguson remains Plan A, and Lucca is a serious Plan B. Yet Taremi is very much part of the discussion, with Il Secolo XIX reporting that there is competition from other clubs for his signature. His experience, penalty-area instincts and recent form make him a logical safety net if other avenues close.
Eyes abroad as the clock ticks
De Rossi and the recruitment team are not limiting themselves to Italy. They are scanning the foreign market as the window winds down, testing every possible route to land the right striker.
Montenegrin forward Milutin Osmajic, currently at Preston, is being watched closely. So is Moroccan striker Tawfik Bentayeb of Union Touarga. Both represent different types of gambles: less proven at the highest European level, but potentially cheaper and with room to grow.
Genoa know they cannot miss on this call. With the season about to bite and De Rossi’s project taking shape, the identity of the man leading the line could define how far this team can actually go.
