Werder Bremen and Andre Silva: A potentially sneaky important move | OneFootball

It’s been a little over a week since the winter transfer window came to a close in Germany, and there was a certain move that came in at the very end.

Werder Bremen announced the acquisition of Andre Silva, who joined on a short-term loan from fellow Bundesliga side RB Leipzig. It was a surprising move, especially considering how quickly it came together. There weren’t any rumors or leaked news before things were practically official.

It was a move that was mostly celebrated by Bremen and their supporters, even if some wished there was an option to purchase the player at the end of the season. Despite that, there’s a real chance he’ll make enough of an impact this season to make the move worth it.

Filling in a need

Not only did Werder need a striker, they were in need of a certain kind of striker. They needed a goalscorer, a pure goalscorer.

They didn’t have one earlier. Marvin Ducksch is more of a playmaker, and he likes to play off a number #9 more than he likes being that central figure. Marco Grull and Justin Njinmah are speedsters, who are closer to winger since they use their speed to stretch opposing defenses. Oli Burke is a supersub, while Keke Topp isn’t a proven talent just yet.

The team lacked someone they could build around. They needed a central forward who would park themselves in the area and focus on putting the ball into the back of the net.

That’s what Andre Silva will do.

In his prime, he was a relentless goalscorer. The former Portuguese international exploded in the 2020/21 season, grabbing 28 goals in 32 league matches for Eintracht Frankfurt. He pitched in with eight assists as well.

Silva’s goal catalog from that time is a joy to watch. His speciality was the one-time finish, either a clever flick-on or a header from close range or even a powerful volley past the goalkeeper. He didn’t need many chances to score, and if he was left open, he’d make the defense pay.

If he can come close to reaching those same heights, then he’ll be a big boost to Bremen. Their top-scorer this campaign only has seven goals, and that’s central midfielder Jens Stage. They have lacked a killer in the final third.

La remontada

Then again, Werder have to hope the player they’re getting isn’t too far removed from that same Silva who lit up the Bundesliga.

He had one solid season at RB Leipzig after joining them, but he found consistent gametime hard to come by. They were quick to throw him to the side as soon as they found someone else, and then a bad choice of loan move left him struggling at Real Sociedad.

He’s someone who lacks confidence at this point in his career, and that’s what really hurts him. Silva plays on instinct, and if he’s not confident in his own abilities then he simply doesn’t play as well. He doubts himself, and he ends up being a step behind things.

Fortunately for him, the forward might be in the right team and system to save his career. Head coach Ole Werner trots out an attacking lineup, and his tactics focus on getting the ball up the field quickly and often.

He’s a big reason why Niclas Füllkrug had his fairytale rise a few years ago. If you’re a striker who can be in the right spot at the right time and you can finish your chances, then you’ll succeed in the system. Silva has been that before, so why can’t he be that again?

If he ends up pulling off the career resurgence, everything could change for Bremen. They’re in the midst of a European push, and a winning streak could lead to Conference League qualification, or even passage to the Europa League. Considering they were in the 2. Bundesliga just three years ago, it’d be a remarkable return to the grand stage.

Even if he leaves at the end of the season, Silva would go down as a folk hero. It’s not like he has to depart, either. There’s no deal in place to buy him now, but that doesn’t mean that Werder can’t re-enter negotiations with RB Leipzig in the summer. The latter might be happy just to get him off the books.

While Silva joining Bremen might end up being a very standard loan deal, it also might end up being one of the most important moves made in the Bundesliga this season.