Transfer Speculation
As per one of the latest reports by talkSPORT, Wolverhampton Wanderers are interested to sign Rafael Silva from Benfica. The midfielder was linked with the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool in the past. Apart from the Wolves, Leicester City and are perceived to be desirous to make him sign on the dotted line as per the report.
Fact File
Rafa initially developed in the youth ranks of Povoense, Alverca and Feirense and was eventually promoted to the senior side of Feirense. Then he moved to Brage before signing for Benfica in the summer of 2016. Besides, he has also represented the Portuguese national side on a number of occasions and has quite a bit of experience under his belt.
Attributes
The 24-year-old is a versatile player who can operate from the wings as well as from the middle of the park. He has been often dubbed as the ‘Portuguese Hazard’ owing to his excellent dribbling skills and tendency to engineer something fruitful in the final third. He showcases immense keenness to participate in the attacking endeavours of his side and tries to unite the side together with his vision and passes.
Rafa’s skills, vision and technicality are notable and he shows a keen eye for scoring goals. There are, however, some areas he needs to work on. He is often criticized for not making adequate amounts of defensive contributions. Moreover, when he is chalked in the wide areas, he fails to muster meticulous crosses and he leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to passing the ball in a precise manner.
Would He Be A Good Signing?
The Portuguese hasn’t had a great season in the Portuguese top flight, having made just 11 appearances and in the process, he has notched up just 1 goal and 2 assists. However, it would be unfair to underestimate the calibre he possesses and frankly speaking, he would be more than a decent signing for the Wolves.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are currently placed at the top of the Championship table. With a promotion to the Premier League looking like a gettable target, Wolves might be aiming to beef up their arsenal. With some of the Portuguese talents like Diego Jota, Ivan Cavaleiro and Ruben Neves already in the ranks of Espirito Santo’s side, he could be the next one to follow the trend.
Statistics Credits: WhoScored
