Because Fabio Silva forces Dortmund to rethink striker hierarchy

Ahead of the Bundesliga season‑opening clash with Hamburger SV, Dortmund head coach Niko Kovač declared that Serhou Guirassy remains the club’s number‑one striker, yet the rapid emergence of Fabio Silva has already forced the German side to contemplate a fundamental system change.

Kovač made his point clear in the pre‑match press conference, stating: “He knows his role in the team. Serhou Guirassy is our number one striker. He is the challenger.” The coach’s words set the tone for Dortmund’s attacking hierarchy ahead of the Hamburger SV test.

After Dortmund’s Champions League victory over Villarreal, Guirassy praised his teammate, saying: “Fabio Silva and I really enjoy playing together and we have a lot of fun in training. He is a great player.” The forward’s endorsement highlighted the growing camaraderie between the two strikers.

Kovač later added, “You can see that we can play this system with two strikers just as well as with one striker. If we now add Fabio alongside Serhou too – and we will – then we really have something special.” The statement suggested a tactical shift could be on the cards.

Silva’s summer transfer saga

During the summer, Sky reported that Dortmund were willing to discuss a move for Silva, with talks starting at a fee of 20 million euros and both a loan and a permanent sale on the table. The Portuguese forward had arrived a year earlier from Wolves for 22.5 million euros.

Clubs from Spain, the Netherlands and Portugal were said to have shown interest, but Silva rejected the approaches, opting to stay with the black‑and‑yellow side. His decision may also have blocked a potential transfer for Jamie Leweling to Dortmund.

Statistical impact and future plans

In his first four competitive appearances this season, Silva has contributed four goals and assists combined – three goals and one assist – all as a substitute. “It’s a good feeling when you know you have a player like that sitting on the bench. That can make the difference,” Lars Ricken observed after the Champions League match.

Ole Book echoed the sentiment, noting: “If Fabio performs the way he has in the last few games, then of course he is underlining his ambitions for more minutes.” The praise underscores the striker’s growing importance.

Kovač now faces the task of reshaping Dortmund’s striker hierarchy, with Silva moving from backup to an equal partner. He hinted that the pair could even start together against Paderborn, signalling a permanent tactical evolution.