Nuno Espirito Santo Nigel Clough Nottingham Forest
(Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)
Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent
Sun 13 July 2025 13:49, UK
Nottingham Forest attacker Joe Gardner is in advanced talks to join Mansfield Town, sources have told Football Insider.
The League One outfit have agreed the terms of a loan deal and are close to beating a number of EFL clubs to the capture of the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international forward.
Gardner, 20, spent the second half of last season out on loan at Lincoln City, where he scored one goal in 11 League One appearances for the Imps against Crawley Town.
The versatile forward, who has come through the ranks at Forest, made his first-team debut in the FA Cup against Bristol City in February 2024 and has been on the bench for several Premier League games.
Nigel Clough is the son of Nottingham Forest hero Brian Clough
Mansfield make use of Nottingham Forest connection
Mansfield recorded a 17th-place finish in League One after their promotion from League Two the season prior, and were the second-highest scorers in the bottom half of the table albeit with a leaky defence.
Stags manager and Forest legend Nigel Clough will hope that Gardner’s goals can propel his side up the table next term, with Mansfield having already signed midfielder Nathan Moriah-Welsh from Hibernian.
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Gardner was named in Forest’s first-team squad for matches against both Brentford and Liverpool last season, and signed a long-term contract at the City Ground before his January loan move to Lincoln.
After six goals and three assists for Forest’s Under-23s in the Premier League 2 last term, Clough has signed Gardner with a view to translating that form to League One at Field Mill next season.
Anthony Elanga Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest lost Anthony Elanga to Newcaslte this summer (Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)
Nottingham Forest fight to keep hold of star players
Nuno Espirito Santo is clearly happy for Gardner to take the next step of his development elsewhere, despite Forest’s need for more squad depth ahead of their first European campaign in 29 seasons.
Forest have taken steps to bulk up Nuno’s squad with the signings of Botafogo trio Igor Jesus, Cuiabano and Jair Cunha this summer, but face a battle to keep hold of £60million playmker Morgan Gibbs-White.
Elevation from the UEFA Conference League to the Europa League is another massive boost for Forest, but it remains to be seen how their frontline will take shape without youngsters like Gardner making up the numbers.
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