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Fulham U21's captain Matt Dibley-Dias is set to make a loan switch to The Cobblers

Highlights

Kieron Bowie may have returned from his loan spell at Northampton Town, but his development has helped set up another loan swoop.

Bowie, 21, initially joined Cobblers on a season-long loan from Fulham in the summer of 2022 as a 19-year-old, but returned last summer for a second stint after a successful campaign, which saw him pick up five goals and three assists.

After aiding Town to promotion the season prior, the Scotland youth international turned out 45 times for the side in League One, scoring nine goals and assisting five as Jon Brady's side comfortably survived the drop.

Bowie's development over his two spells at Northampton certainly hasn't gone unnoticed by parent-club Fulham, who are set to trust Brady and his team with the services of their U21 captain, Matt Dibley-Dias, reports Darren Witcoop.

The 20-year-old had plenty of clubs showing interest, according to Mirror journalist Dan Marsh, but Northampton's strong relationship with the Premier League side could well have boosted them ahead of rivals for his signature.

Brady has nurtured strong Northampton relationships

Since Brady took control of the club on a permanent basis in 2021, Town's fortunes in the loan market have been overturned significantly, with players such as Marc Leonard, Kion Etete and Tyler Magloire paving their careers in the senior game under Brady's guidance.

Leonard has recently signed for Birmingham City from Brighton and Hove Albion in a deal believed to be worth in excess of £500k, while Etete earned a permanent move from Tottenham to Championship outfit Cardiff City and Magloire re-signed for the club from Blackburn months after his short stint was ended by injury.

These developments offer strong relationships with the teams in question as well as a brilliant selling pitch for Brady to offer other clubs looking to offload talents, whether that be for game time, experience or both.

This is proven by Fulham trusting Brady and his staff to take one of their top talents off their hands, obviously believing that the environment and coaching on offer can return them a senior professional, as they look to blood their 20-year-old product, Dibley-Dias, into senior football.

Dibley-Dias has the opportunity to fill some big shoes

On paper, the New Zealand native has a big role to play as the touted replacement for the outgoing Leonard, but this should be seen as an opportunity as opposed to pressure.

Leonard's progress and subsequent big-money move to Birmingham has proven that if Dibley-Dias has the talent and leadership he has displayed at youth level, he has all the opportunities to thrive at Northampton and earn himself an opportunity at Fulham or a move up the pyramid.

As well as the previous Bowie success, sending Dibley-Dias to a club where a Premier League loan talent made their mark in the same role that matches the youngsters' profile, Fulham will be hoping that he can replicate the success of the former Brighton man.

In a move that suits all parties, Cobblers fans should be excited about the potential acquisition of, on paper, a top-rated talent and Fulham's fans and directors should be assured that the midfielder is in safe hands with the direction and opportunity he requires to really make a name for himself. Bowie's recent showings will fuel that confidence.