As the discussion continues around the striker position at Rangers, Fabio Silva might well have shown Philippe Clement he’s the man to fill the void.
Despite a productive transfer window – where the Portuguese forward joined on loan from Wolves – there was an air of disappointment when an out-and-out striker never moved to Rangers.
Cyriel Dessers is a man maligned, albeit in resurgence, with Kemar Roofe (more on him later) unreliable fitness-wise and Danilo’s first season in Glasgow decimated by injury.
Throw in a long-term injury to Abdallah Sima – who scored 15 goals in the first half of the season – and suddenly Rangers look decidedly short at the top end of the park.
But as Fabio Silva gets off the mark for Rangers against Livingston, it’s gone some way to alleviating the forward pressure with Philippe Clement potentially finding a £35m plug for the striker gap at Ibrox.
Fabio Silva, Rangers striker
The Rangers manager has been clear ever since Silva joined that the striker can lead the line and since bringing him into the club has put that money where his mouth is.
The 21-year-old Portuguese forward continues to get opportunities in the forward area of the pitch and by the game looks an intelligent, mobile and – most importantly – potentially potent forward.
In fact, it has been goals which have been where Silva has fallen short in his brief if not much-hyped career to date and Rangers will be viewed as an outpost for that to change.
With the Gers set to dominate matches, there will be chances aplenty, and when you combine Fabio Silva’s relentless in-game effort and technical qualities, suddenly we don’t look to be so devoid of options up top after all.
Wolves loanee bolsters options
Rangers boss Philippe Clement has also just suggested that Kemar Roofe will be fit sooner rather than later, and whilst Gers fans will hang fire on getting carried away, there is a chance the striker contributes this season.
That would give Rangers three striker options in Cyriel Dessers, Fabio Silva, and Kemar Roofe and perhaps there was a plan all along this January.
Links to the likes of Lawrence Shankland continue to linger but that’s very much a summer problem as Rangers look to mount a challenge this season.
But will the additions of Fabio Silva, Mohamed Diomande, and Oscar Cortes be enough for the club to be successful this season?
