Joao Silva is a 25-year-old Portuguese striker. He is one of those players who has the sort of talent that can get him signed to a club in a major European league, but hasn't yet managed to get one those clubs to give him regular playing time. Signed by Everton in 2010 after a 14-goal season in the Portuguese Segunda Liga for his hometown club, Aves, he spent most of his time with the Premier League team on loan in Portugal, before moving on to Bulgaria's Levski Sofia.

He left Sofia in 2013, and was snapped up by Bari, then (as now) in Italy's Serie B. Eight goals in 43 appearances later, he was back in the sights of a big-league club: Serie A's Palermo signed him in 2014 (after appealing a decision that had seen the transfer fail due to missing its window by 33 seconds). He managed one more appearance for Palermo than he had for Everton - which is to say he played once for Palermo (28 minutes off the bench).

This season, he is back in Portugal, playing for Pacos de Ferreira in Primeira Liga. He is getting more playing time than he was at Palermo and the season is only a couple of months old, so it is a little surprising to see his name appear in a transfer rumor. Still, Tuttomercatoweb.com has reported the player is a potential winter window target for MLS clubs Orlando City and "Boston", which we assume to mean the New England Revolution.

Slva has youth international caps for Portugal, but has never represented his senior national team. He has yet to score for his current club, Pacos de Ferreira.