Rangers have had an issue up front ever since the Scottish Premiership title was secured in 2021 with Fabio Silva the latest to be charged with scoring goals.
The 21-year old burst onto the scene with Porto and saw Wolverhampton Wanderers pay £35m for his services, the hope being that he will return to this sort of form during his spell at Ibrox.
Rangers manager Philippe Clement threw Fabio Silva straight into his squad at the earliest opportunity but Kris Boyd, speaking to Sky Sports, has his doubts.
Rangers need more than Fabio Silva claims Kris Boyd
Danilo’s injury might be worse than first feared and Kemar Roofe’s injury, well, he could return fully fit after the winter break and suffer a relapse during the warm-up for the first game back.
In short, he simply can’t be relied on anymore and it doesn’t look like Clement is going to either.
When asked if Fabio Silva can be the difference for Rangers, Boyd said:
“I think it’s an opportunity for him to come in and perform. But I just get the feeling that Rangers in that central position, we seen from Dessers at Celtic it was a really poor performance, they need someone that’s going to take a grip of that position and say ‘it’s mine’.
“Is Fabio Silva that man? I’m not quite sure he’s an out-and-out number nine either. Danilo is obviously missing. Do Rangers have to go out and get a proven goalscorer? If it’s me, I would.”
In terms of out and out goalscorers, Lawrence Shankland is the obvious one that has been in the headlines.
Other than the Hearts skipper, Million Manhoef and “priceless” Emmanuel Dennis have been tipped as possible targets but they play most of their football on the flanks.
The prognosis for Danilo hasn’t been fully explained but Boyd has a point, Fabio Silva can’t be the only forward that Rangers sign in this window.
With so many games still to play and every trophy still up for grabs, gambling on Cyriel Dessers staying fit and scoring goals alongside Silva is a risk simply not worth taking.
Either way, Roofe will need replaced in the summer when his contract expires, why not just do it in this transfer window?
As Boyd well knows, Rangers can never have too many goal scorers in the team iff they want to be successful.
