The 4-1 Coppa Italia win over Ascoli offered encouraging signs for De Rossi's side, but attention at Villa Rostan remains firmly on strengthening the squad in these final two weeks of the transfer window, with the club working closely with its technical department to raise the overall quality of the group and provide alternatives in case of a painful but necessary departure — chief among them Brooke Norton-Cuffy on the right side of defence.
Van der Brempt has emerged as the leading candidate to fill that right-back role. The versatile Belgian, who can also operate as a wing-back in a back three, is the subject of a deal now well advanced, with Genoa said to be waiting only on final sign-off from Como.
The Belgian, born in 2002, has already accepted the move despite it meaning giving up Champions League football with Cesc Fàbregas's side, with Genoa fending off competition from Werder Bremen and Marseille to get the deal over the line.
The structure is understood to be a paid loan with an obligation to buy under favourable conditions, and De Rossi is hopeful of having him available for Genoa's Serie A opener against Napoli.
In attack, Genoa are moving quickly towards completing a loan deal for Ferguson, who spent last season on loan at Roma but remains the property of Brighton. The Irish striker, who began his career at Bohemians before joining Brighton in 2021, has made clear his desire to return to Italian football, and Genoa look set to be his next destination, with the English club expected to contribute towards his wages as part of the agreement.
Ferguson's arrival would give De Rossi the physical presence up front his side have been searching for, joining Genoa off the back of a season that saw him help AS Roma qualify for the Champions League under Gian Piero Gasperini, though a left ankle operation in March means he is unlikely to be fully available before early October.