Fabio Silva wowed by Rangers project on visit, transfer now close – Sky Sports
Wolves striker Fabio Silva is said to have been wowed by the project Philippe Clement is building at Rangers with a transfer now close to completion, according to Sky Sports News.
The broadcaster shared on their live transfer blog (28 December, 15:07pm) that conversations between Silva and Clement along with the lure of European football were a key factor in Silva deciding to join Rangers over Celtic.
Fabrizio Romano posted on his personal Twitter page on Thursday (28 December) that Nils Koppen and Clement played a “crucial” part in the Gers’ agreement to sign the Portuguese youngster on loan from Wolves.
The big-money Wolves youngster has reportedly already been to Auchenhowie and is impressed by what he’s seen at the club with the loan deal now close to completion.
Other pressing priorities?
If Rangers wanted to get their January window off to a cracking start, the door looks to be open for that to happen exactly for Clement, with the Belgian providing a clear stance of his plans to splash the cash.
However, this is a move the Light Blues did not need as there are more pressing areas of the squad to address in January desperately, and Silva’s individual record doesn’t make him an attractive proposition.
The reported Gers target has struggled at Premier League level so far this season for Wolves as he has zero goals and zero assists in eight matches.
Silva has just four goals and three assists in 62 top-flight outings [Transfermarkt] in total since his move to England – a record which certainly doesn’t scream of instant success at Ibrox, characteristics which Clement will need if they are to topple Celtic for the SPFL title.
Rangers possess a striker in terrific form right now in Cyriel Dessers who has so far three goals and two assists in his last five games (SofaScore) and has recorded nine goals in all competitions this season [Transfermarkt], this despite all the criticism thrown his way since signing at Ibrox.
The Gers are currently undergoing a real midfield crisis with the number of injuries suffered in the position and much of their energy should be placed on that area first and foremost rather than a player who’s not guaranteed to score as many goals as Dessers has during his loan spell.
Also, the centre-back position can be strengthened with more quality and youth for the future. Nonetheless, there is a talent in Silva somewhere that can be unlocked so it could turn out to be a masterstroke but other areas need addressing too.
In other Rangers news, Tavernier and Goldson were both said to be shocked by the behaviour of Michael Beale during preseason.