Player Watch: Las Palmas' Fábio Silva

The Wolves reject is catching fire at the right time.

Welcome to Player Watch, your go-to source for spotting football’s emerging talents. In this series, The Fútbolinho Network dives deep into the performances of young and often under-the-radar players who are not just playing well but showing immense potential to become the next big names in football.

Today’s Player Watch is on Wolves loanee Fábio Silva.

Silva, 22, has struggled to find a home. Since joining Wolverhampton for €40 million in Sept. 2020, the Portuguese forward has been sent on four loans.

This year, it seems like he has settled in nicely at UD Las Palmas. In 11 matches, the forward has scored five goals and assisted one.

Silva has scored in each of El Pio-Pio’s last three games. On Nov. 8, he scored the opener against Rayo Vallecano is Las Palmas’ 3-1 victory. The 22-year-old then scored a penalty against Mallorca the following week, but his team couldn’t hold on and lost in the 90’ minute.

In Form

This past weekend, El Pio-Pio took on first place FC Barcelona away from home. The Blaugrana sat four points clear at the top of the table.

Things did not go well for the hosts. Barça could not break the deadlock in the first half and former La Masia graduate Sandro Ramírez opened the score in the 49’ minute. FC Barcelona would equalize, but it didn’t last for long.

In the 67’ minute, Silva was sent a ball in behind Barça’s defense. He controlled the ball brilliantly, shielding it from his opponent as he sprinted into the box. Off-balanced, he hit the ball towards the far post and scored.

His Future

Most likely, Silva will finish the season in the Canary Islands. His contract with Wolves is up at the end of the 2025-26 season.

According to Sports Mole, Wolverhampton want to sell the Portuguese striker. It is reported that Brentford, Bournemouth and Southampton are interested.

This is going to be a very important second half of the season. If he continues the way he has been playing, the forward will definitely secure a nice move.

If he were to improve, I would not be surprised if he transferred to a Portuguese team or even a Spanish team playing in Europe. This situation reminds me a lot of Samu Aghehowa. The Spanish forward was on loan to Deportivo Alavés from Atlético Madrid. He scored nine goals and earned an assist last season in La Liga. Now, he is balling with Porto scoring 13 goals and one assist in 16 matches. Aghehowa is now expected to make a big money move.

Looking Ahead

UD Las Palmas plays today against CE Europa in the Second Round of the Copa Del Rey. With El Pio-Pio most likely rotating the squad, the next time we can see Fábio Silva in action is on Saturday against last place Real Valladolid.