“Accurate and Clean” Fabio Silva Impressing Nico Kovac as Ex-Wolves Forward Aims to Usurp Struggling Borussia Dortmund Striker in Starting XI

Kovac’s Praise for “Accurate and Clean” Silva as Battle Brews Between Ex-Wolves Man and Guirassy

A quiet revolution might be brewing inside Borussia Dortmund’s dressing room. What began as a simple squad rotation now looks like a genuine fight for the No. 9 role. Fabio Silva, the €22.5 million summer signing from Wolves, is suddenly knocking loudly on Nico Kovac’s door for a starting spot, and the manager seems to like what he sees.

Silva, just 23, has been described by Kovac as “accurate, clean, and team-oriented” — words that, coming from the meticulous Croatian coach, carry real weight. His midweek goal in the Champions League win over Copenhagen has pushed him right into contention to start Dortmund’s Bundesliga clash against Köln this weekend.

At the same time, Serhou Guirassy — Dortmund’s headline striker and one of last season’s most prolific goalscorers in Europe — finds himself wrestling not just with form but with a persistent thigh injury that refuses to go away. For the first time this season, Kovac faces a delicate decision: stick with his trusted finisher, or ride the wave of a hungry young challenger desperate to prove himself.

Fabio Silva: From Premier League Prospect to Bundesliga Breakthrough

It’s been a long road for Fabio Silva. Once the golden boy of FC Porto’s academy, he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers for a record fee as a teenager, touted as one of Portugal’s next great forwards. But Premier League life was rarely kind to him — stop-start appearances, managerial changes, and a club in transition left him on the fringes.

Now in Germany, Silva looks rejuvenated. His performances off the bench have caught eyes — energetic, disciplined, sharp in movement, and confident in front of goal. Against Copenhagen, he looked every bit like a man who has been waiting patiently for his moment.

Kovac has noticed.

“He’s been very diligent in training,” the coach said this week. “Very accurate, very clean in his execution, very team-oriented. Fabio is coming in more and more. I’m trying to give him more and more minutes because he deserves them.”

That word — deserves — means something. Kovac is not one for empty praise. At Monaco and Wolfsburg, he was known for demanding discipline and tactical intelligence above flair. For Silva to earn such commendation suggests the Portuguese striker is ticking every box in training.

Guirassy’s Struggles: From Scoring Machine to Fitness Doubts

Fabio Silva BVB

Serhou Guirassy’s situation, meanwhile, has turned from comfortable to complicated. The Guinean forward was one of the Bundesliga’s most explosive players last season, hitting 21 league goals and sharing top honours in the Champions League with 13. He began this campaign in similar fashion, scoring four in his first six league appearances — but then the thigh injury struck.

According to Sport Bild, the issue first appeared just before the international break, and since then Guirassy hasn’t looked the same. His touch has deserted him, his confidence has dipped, and his movement looks laboured. The same report noted he “can barely control the ball and appears insecure.”

For a player who thrived on physical sharpness and quick reactions, this is worrying. Kovac has publicly backed his striker, calling him “our insurance policy,” but privately, there must be concern.

“For me, Serhou is very, very important,” Kovac told Sky Germany. “He remains our insurance policy because he’s a key part of this team. It’s not easy for him right now — defenders are paying extra attention, doubling up on him. But I know he will give us what we need: his goals.”

That’s the official line. Yet when a manager starts giving public votes of confidence, it usually means he’s weighing options.

“Opposites” in Style, United in Purpose

Silva’s growing presence has been described by Sport Bild as the “exact opposite” of Guirassy’s current form. The younger striker is “lively, hard-working, technically sharp,” while the senior man relies on strength, hold-up play, and penalty-box instinct.

The contrast is clear in their recent cameos. Silva presses high, drops deep when needed, and connects midfielders with the attack — a link-up style that suits Kovac’s compact system. Guirassy, by contrast, stays central and thrives when Dortmund play direct.

For now, Kovac has the luxury of two different profiles. But the dynamics are shifting. If Silva can maintain his energy and composure in front of goal, the tactical advantage may tip in his favour.

The Barcelona Angle: Guirassy’s Release Clause Sparks Rumours

Adding intrigue to the situation is Guirassy’s contract. Sky Germany reports that his current deal runs until 2028, but crucially, includes a decreasing release clause. Last summer, that clause was set at €75 million, but a lower figure will become active in 2026 — a detail that has already caught Barcelona’s attention.

For a club known to be searching for long-term options beyond Robert Lewandowski, Guirassy’s record is hard to ignore: 44 goals across all competitions since the start of last season. In Europe’s top five leagues, only Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Lewandowski himself have scored more in that span.

Whether Dortmund would entertain offers is another story. Losing a striker of Guirassy’s pedigree would be a huge blow, but his injury record and age (29) might force them to consider alternatives sooner rather than later. And that’s where Silva’s rise becomes even more significant — he could be the internal solution Dortmund didn’t know they already had.

The Kovac Conundrum: When Success Breeds Selection Headaches

For Nico Kovac, this is both a problem and a privilege. Managing elite players often means dealing with ego and emotion. Guirassy is a senior figure, a proven goalscorer, and a leader in the dressing room. Dropping him could risk unsettling that balance.

But Kovac also has a responsibility to keep form and fitness at the forefront of his decisions. He’s been pragmatic in the past, famously benching big names when performance levels dipped. And in Dortmund, where the expectation is not just to compete but to win, sentiment cannot outweigh merit.

The next few games could therefore define both strikers’ immediate futures. If Silva starts against Köln and delivers again, Kovac may have no choice but to keep him in the XI. If Guirassy responds with goals once fit, Dortmund will be stronger for the competition. Either way, it’s a healthy dilemma for a manager aiming to get the most out of his squad.

A Tactical Shift in the Making?

What makes Silva particularly appealing is how naturally he fits Dortmund’s evolving style. Kovac has been quietly reshaping the team into a more modern pressing unit — compact lines, rapid transitions, high-tempo attacks. Silva’s intelligent pressing and crisp passing in tight spaces complement that approach perfectly.

In contrast, Guirassy’s more traditional centre-forward profile can sometimes slow transitions, especially when Dortmund face teams that sit deep. In such matches, Silva’s movement between the lines could be the difference between frustration and breakthrough.

Kovac might even experiment with a dual-striker setup, pairing both players to exploit their contrasting strengths. Silva’s willingness to roam and create could unlock space for Guirassy’s predatory instincts inside the box.

What’s Next for Dortmund and Their Strikers

Niko Kovac

Dortmund’s upcoming fixture list offers Kovac both risk and opportunity: Köln at home, followed by tricky away trips in the league and Champions League. Rotations will be inevitable, but form will dictate who gets the bigger moments.

For Silva, the weekend could mark his first Bundesliga start — a chance to make a statement and turn potential into permanence. For Guirassy, a short rest might be the reset he needs to rediscover his lethal edge.

The irony is that both players might benefit from this competition. Guirassy regains sharpness without overexertion; Silva gains confidence from playing time. And for Dortmund, the result could be a strike force with variety, hunger, and depth — something they’ve lacked since Erling Haaland’s departure.

Conclusion: A Battle Worth Watching

Borussia Dortmund find themselves in a fascinating moment of transition. Fabio Silva, the former prodigy once labelled a Premier League misfit, now looks ready to fulfil his promise under a coach who values precision and work rate. Serhou Guirassy, the established star, must fight through pain and pressure to reclaim his dominance.

It’s the kind of internal rivalry great teams thrive on — respectful, competitive, and performance-driven. Kovac, ever the perfectionist, will be delighted to see both players pushing each other to higher standards.

And if Fabio Silva keeps scoring goals with that “accurate and clean” touch his manager loves so much, the young Portuguese may soon turn a friendly battle into a full-blown change of guard at Borussia Dortmund.