Rangers have struck early in the January transfer window, signing Fabio Silva before the year 2023 is even out.
The 21-year old forward will provide extra depth across the attack and has the quality to make a difference in the Gers squad when games might be tight.
Rangers manager Philippe Clement is obviously delighted to get the deal over the line so quickly but how did the move for Fabio Silva come about?
How Rangers made move for Fabio Silva and what’s the cost?
Italian journalist Luca Bendoni broke the news early yesterday afternoon and as one of Gianluca Di Marzio’s trusted assistants, had the inside track on the deal.
Speaking to This is Ibrox, in an interview arranged by Rangers News, host Craig Dennett asked Bendoni for the background information on what could be a huge deal for the club:
“Ok, so I think that Rangers interest started far in the past to be honest.
“Already in December there were contacts that were concrete.
“But I thought that Fabio Silva would have assessed the other options like Serie A and Bundesliga, because he was exploring the market.
“He didn’t want to wait because he could have had opportunities in Italy but he wanted, immediately, a new team.”
Fabio Silva’s agent was clearly offering his client to several clubs around the continent with Rangers beating opposition in Germany, Italy and Scotland for his signature.
Celtic can claim not to have been interested all they want but Bendoni is pretty clear that they were.
And he chose Rangers.
Having experienced Ibrox first hand, it’s easy to see why Fabio Silva decided to come to Rangers knowing that there is a last 16 Europa League tie on the horizon.
Nils Koppen’s role in the deal despite not being at the club long also can’t he downplayed.
Having taken Silva to PSV Eindhoven, he knows exactly the type of player that we are getting.
What Bendoni also does, is blow any speculation of Rangers being short of money.
Fabio Silva is on a reported £42,000 per week at Wolves according to Salary Sport, with Rangers now covering most of it as well as a loan fee in the region of £1m.
It never seemed like a deal that was possible, however, Bendoni’s explanation makes perfect sense when you add up the details.
The main detail being that he is heading to Rangers.
