Rangers have shelved plans to sign on-loan striker Fabio Silva permanently due to his underwhelming performances during his six-month spell at Ibrox, according to transfer insider Pete O’Rourke.
Speaking on the latest episode of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, O’Rourke revealed that Gers chiefs have been put off by Silva’s inconsistency, despite initial intentions to pursue a permanent deal.
“Rangers were definitely considering making a move for Silva,” O’Rourke said. “We reported earlier in April that they were planning to contact Wolves to enquire about a cut-price deal.”
However, those plans have been scrapped in light of Silva’s struggles in front of goal. The 21-year-old Portuguese forward, who failed to impress at Wolves following his hefty £35 million move in 2020, has only managed four goals in 19 appearances across all competitions for Rangers.
“His poor form has been a concern, especially considering that even a reduced fee would be a significant chunk of Rangers’ summer transfer budget,” O’Rourke added.
Silva’s lack of impact is further highlighted by the performances of teammates Cyriel Dessers and Abdallah Sima, who have both boasted superior goal-scoring records this season.
While Silva has shown glimpses of talent under manager Philippe Clement, who has deployed him as both a center-forward and left-winger, he has also faced criticism from Rangers supporters.
READ MORE: Kris Boyd Slams Fabio Silva’s Performance in Rangers vs. St Mirren: ‘What Has He Done?’
This lack of consistency aligns with Wolves’ stance on the player. As reported by Football Insider earlier this month, the Premier League club is willing to take a “huge” financial loss on Silva and sell him permanently during the summer transfer window.
Rangers, currently sitting second in the Scottish Premiership and recently securing their place in the Scottish Cup final, will be looking to move on from Silva’s underwhelming spell and focus on their remaining fixtures, including their upcoming league clash against St Mirren this Sunday.