Reports suggest that Wolves manager Gary O’Neil is eager to secure the services of a new striker in the upcoming January transfer window. This development may raise concerns for Fabio Silva. According to The Telegraph, O’Neil is planning to make the acquisition of a proper number nine a top priority. Allegedly, the motive behind this move is to enable Matheus Cunha to play a more versatile role in the attacking third. Cunha, a Brazilian player, has been taking the lead as the team’s forward, a position that might not fully utilize his capabilities.
Cunha is renowned for his excellent ball-carrying skills and seems better suited to playing behind a primary striker, rather than as one himself, despite his impressive performance this season. Consequently, O’Neil is actively searching for a fresh addition in January, a move that could raise concerns for Fabio Silva, who has been experiencing a shortage of playing time at Molineux lately.
The Telegraph asserts that O’Neil is intent on making the signing of a new center-forward a top priority. This implies that he is not entirely content with the current pool of options at Molineux. During the summer, there was substantial speculation about Silva’s future with the club, especially following his loan spells at Anderlecht and PSV Eindhoven in the previous season.
Reportedly, Silva was open to the idea of leaving, with his agent indicating his desire to move. However, Matt Hobbs is credited with playing a significant role in making Silva feel valued and persuading him to stay at the club. O’Neil had initially indicated that Silva would have a substantial role in the team this season, but recently, Silva has had limited appearances for the Wanderers.
He has only made two brief substitute appearances during Wolves’ five-game unbeaten streak in the Premier League, totaling just eight minutes on the field. Currently, he is far down the pecking order, with Cunha and Sasa Kalajdzic both ahead of him. Even in a situation like the Luton match, where Wolves were down to ten men, O’Neil opted to deploy a fatigued Pedro Neto as a forward rather than turning to Silva.
The news that O’Neil is prioritizing a new striker is likely to be disconcerting for Silva, especially since he took over Raul Jimenez’s former shirt number. Given his recent lack of involvement, the upcoming period is crucial for Silva. He must strive to regain a spot in the starting lineup in the weeks leading up to January and ideally prove himself as the type of striker O’Neil is seeking.
If a new striker is brought in, it becomes very plausible that Silva might be sent out on loan or potentially sold.
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