Rangers needed to provide extra firepower for Philippe Clement in the summer with Hamza Igamane the only striker arriving.
Several players of varying reputations and abilities were linked including Scotland international and well known Bluenose, Oli McBurnie.
The former Sheffield United target man openly admitted that the summer speculation was just that, however, it is his new Las Palmas team mate that had hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
- READ MORE: Rangers Net Transfer Spend Summer 2024
Maverick Fabio Silva fails to shake off Rangers yips
When Fabio Silva signed for Rangers in January, it was hoped that the £35m forward could help the manager get his team over the line in the title race.
With six goals in 21 appearances, Silva didn’t quite live up to the price tag and often frustrated the Ibrox faithful.
So much so, that fans gave his dad some friendly advice:
“When I was at the cup final recently, people found out I was his father and said to me, ‘Tell him not to dive.’ I know that’s just emotion and football – but I don’t understand it,” said Silva senior.
“I don’t understand why old players from Rangers – and even some of the fans – criticised him after the Celtic game. It was a huge match but Rangers did nothing before Fabio won the penalty.”
“He put them into the game yet afterwards everyone was against him. I don’t understand that. Whenever Fabio had the ball he always went at his opponent [Alistair Johnston] one v one and he provoked situations.
“He created another goal for the team and it was offside. But the supporters seemed to be against him afterwards.”
This came after Silva’s dad claimed that an extension to the original loan agreement could’ve been possible.
Silva needs to put an end to nomadic career to find best form
In fairness to Silva, now valued at £17m by Wolves, he was one of a few who turned up in Old Firm derbies and against Benfica, but injuries saw him spend most of his time playing on the wing.
The 22-year old is clearly technically gifted, however, when it came to scoring goals, he lacks the composure to be truly elite.
A quality exhibited once again on loan at Las Palmas.
After good work by McBurnie, Silva is unmarked, six-yards out and still misses the target with the goal at his mercy.
These are the goals that Silva has to score if he is to fulfil his early potential as a teenager bursting on the scene in Portugal.
However….
In the second half, Silva produced a moment of magic.
It was a clever run by Silva from a central position before a subtle, finesse shot over the dispairing keeper to take the score with Villarreal level.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to stop his side losing 3-1 on the night.
If anything, it was a 90-minute performance that summed up his time at Rangers.
The odd moment of brilliance interspersed with questionable decision making and composure.
What hasn’t helped, is being shunted from club to club, year after year.
He needs somewhere to settle down where he can build relationships with other players and play for a manager who wants to develop him not just to help fill the squad.
