Fulham youngster Luciano D’Auria-Henry is close to joining League One outfit Cheltenham Town on loan for the remainder of the 2023/24 campaign, according to Gloucestershire Live.
The Robins finished comfortably above the relegation zone last season in England’s third-tier, accumulating 54 points. However, Wade Elliott’s side have endured a difficult start this term, failing to score a single goal.
Cheltenham Town have lost all four games in all competitions this season, including a first-round exit from the EFL Cup at the hands of Championship side Birmingham City.
Elliott and the board are looking to bolster the squad before the transfer window slams shut to ensure that the abhorrent start to the campaign is short-lived.
Luciano D’Auria-Henry is the latest name being linked with a move to Whaddon Road as Fulham are prepared to allow the fullback to head out on the first loan spell of his career.
D’Auria-Henry has been with the Cottagers since 2013 and even made it on Marco Silva’s bench in August of last year as the London club were defeated by League Two club Crawley Town in what was a surprising result.
The 20-year-old defender has yet to make his competitive debut and so moving to Cheltenham Town for the forthcoming campaign will offer him the chance to finally get a taste of men’s football.
Gloucestershire Live are also reporting that D’Auria Henry will go straight into Elliott’s squad that travels to Fratton Park on Saturday to face John Mousinho’s Portsmouth.
Writer’s View
First-team action is what D’Auria-Henry needs right now. Academy football will only develop a player to a certain level, but at the age of 20, the winger-turned-fullback needs to experience the hardships of competitive games at a high level.
Teammate Jay Stansfield got a taste of League One action with Exeter City last season and had an excellent individual campaign while Luke Harris is reportedly set to join the Grecians too, according to journalist Darren Witcoop.
Whether the loan move is a success or not, D’Auria-Henry will be a better player for it and so it’s important that this deal comes to fruition.