Mansfield Town are in advanced talks to sign Joe Gardner on loan from Nottingham Forest, sources have told Football Insider.
The 20-year-old forward is expected to join the Stags on a season-long loan after Mansfield agreed terms with Forest. A number of EFL clubs have expressed interest, but Nigel Clough’s side appear to be leading the race for the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international.
Gardner made his senior debut for Forest in the FA Cup against Bristol City in February 2024 and was named on the bench for multiple Premier League matches last season, including trips to Brentford and Liverpool.
He spent the second half of 2024/25 on loan at Lincoln City, making 11 appearances in League One and scoring once — a tidy finish in a win over Crawley Town.
A product of the Nottingham Forest academy, Gardner impressed in Premier League 2, registering six goals and three assists for the U23s last season. He signed a long-term deal at the City Ground before his loan move in January.
Stags boss Nigel Clough, a club legend at Forest, is looking to strengthen his side’s attack after a 17th-place finish in League One. Mansfield were among the better-scoring teams in the bottom half but will be hoping Gardner can offer more firepower in the final third.
The deal would make Gardner Mansfield’s second major addition of the summer, following the signing of midfielder Nathan Moriah-Welsh from Hibernian.
A move to Field Mill would be another key step in Gardner’s development, with first-team minutes a priority as Forest look to manage their growing squad ahead of European competition in 2025/26.
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