In a recent print edition, Paul Hirst of the Times stated that Manchester City have identified Eintracht Frankfurt forward Andre Silva as a summer target. It is understood that the Portuguese striker is one of the names in Man City boss Pep Guardiola’s wishlist to replace Sergio Aguero, who will become a free agent at the end of this campaign (via The Times).
Silva’s Excellent Numbers In German Football This Season
The Portuguese centre-forward is having a terrific season at Frankfurt after putting in several match-winning performances as the focal point of Adi Hütter’s attack. Silva has been involved in 32 matches for the German outfit this term, netting 26 goals and securing ten assists across all fronts.
The 25-year-old has caught the eye by averaging 3.4 shots, 1.0 key passes and 0.8 dribbles per game in the Bundesliga this season. However, he has been guilty of being a bit untidy when distributing possession inside the opposition half as he has completed just 73.2% of his attempted passes in the German first division (stats via whoscored).
The Portugal international has proven his worth as a prolific goal-getter, so it is no surprise that Man City are considering him as one of the options to succeed Aguero at the Etihad Stadium in the coming seasons.
What Will The Portuguese Striker Add To Pep Guardiola’s Team?
Silva is proficient at creating a yard of space for himself to get a few shots in on-target. He has decent pace in his locker and doesn’t like giving the opposition centre-backs a moment’s rest because of his high work rate when leading the charge down the middle.
The 38-time Portugal international is also an expert penalty taker and can be a tough act to cope with when he is dribbling at full swing in the opposition half. He has even contributed by picking up his fair share of assists up top.
We can expect Silva to add plenty of goals and energy to Guardiola’s attacking department. Moreover, he will offer some healthy competition for Gabriel Jesus in the race to secure a regular starting spot in Man City’s first team next season.
At 25, Silva will enter the peak years of his playing career soon, so Guardiola can expect to get the best out of him if he decides to bring him to the Etihad Stadium this offseason. All in all, the Eintracht Frankfurt star will undeniably add a lot of long-term value to Man City as he could grow into a top talent for them in the years to come.
