Mansfield Town are closing in on a loan deal for Nottingham Forest forward Joe Gardner as Nigel Clough continues to strengthen his squad.
The 20-year-old is expected to join the League One side after impressing during a short spell with Lincoln City last season.
Clough Looks to Forest Link to Boost Stags Attack
Gardner, a Republic of Ireland Under-21 international, is in advanced talks over a season-long loan move to Field Mill. Mansfield have fought off interest from other EFL clubs to secure his signature, with terms reportedly agreed between the two sides.
The young attacker made his senior debut for Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup tie against Bristol City in February 2024. He was also named on the bench for several Premier League fixtures last season, including against Brentford and Liverpool, under head coach Nuno Espírito Santo.
A January loan move to Lincoln City saw Gardner make 11 League One appearances, scoring once in a 2-1 victory over Crawley Town. He followed that with six goals and three assists for Forest’s Under-21s in Premier League 2, underlining his growing reputation at youth level.
Now, Nigel Clough is looking to tap into that potential as Mansfield look to climb the League One table. After finishing 17th last season, despite being among the division’s highest scorers in the bottom half, the Stags are hoping Gardner can add cutting edge to an attack that lacked consistency across the campaign.
Clough has already made early moves in the transfer market, bringing in midfielder Nathan Moriah-Welsh from Hibernian. Gardner would become the next piece of a rebuild aimed at improving Mansfield’s League One status in what will be their second consecutive season at this level following promotion from League Two in 2023.
Forest, meanwhile, have sanctioned the move despite preparing for their first European campaign in nearly three decades. The club have already strengthened with multiple summer signings, allowing Gardner to seek further senior experience away from the City Ground.
Writer’s View
This looks like a clever piece of business by Nigel Clough. Joe Gardner is raw but versatile, and his spell at Lincoln last season showed flashes of his potential. Mansfield need more goals and energy in the final third, and Gardner brings both.
The Forest connection always gives Clough an edge in these types of deals, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the young forward play a bigger role at Field Mill than he did at the LNER Stadium. If he can translate his Under-21 form to senior football, Mansfield may have landed a gem.
