Rome – Serie A side Genoa are close to hiring Hernan Crespo and Ricardo Quaresma from Italian champions Inter Milan after having secured a berth in the next Europa League.

Italian media on Tuesday reported that the arrival of Argentina striker Crespo, 33, and Portuguese Quaresma, 25, follow the sale of Argentine striker Diego Milito and Brazil midfielder Thiago Motta to Inter.

“There’s an agreement (with Inter about Quaresma),” Genoa president Enrico Preziosi said. “We buy half (of the ownership) for 10 million euros (14 million dollars).”

Quaresma failed to convince this season at Inter, who loaned him off to Chelsea in February. Preziosi said that coach Giampiero Gasperini was happy to welcome the midfielder.

Young striker Robert Acquafresca is also due to arrive from Inter, but could be loaned off to another team, while a place upfront next to Crespo should go to Sergio Floccari, who appears to join from Atalanta.

Genoa returned to the top flight in 2007 after 12 years in the lower division. They secured a berth in the Europa League, which replaces the UEFA Cup, well ahead of the season end on Sunday, and for several weeks even vied for a Champions League berth. (dpa)