Lincoln City should concede defeat to Walsall in Nottingham Forest transfer chase | OneFootball

Lincoln City have made two important signings this January, but they should avoid sealing one that has been linked to them.

Lincoln City have made two important signings this January but they should avoid making a recent linked target into the third addition.

The Imps are in a race with Sky Bet League Two leaders Walsall for Nottingham Forest youngster Joe Gardner, according to Football Insider.

The report claims that both sides are keen on securing the loan services of the forward for the remainder of the current campaign.

Lincoln City have no need for another young striker

Walsall are reportedly leading the race for Gardner, after being denied another of their much-gossiped targets in the shape of Lincoln striker Freddie Draper.

Gardner, 19 years old, has spent an eye-catching spell with Forest’s under-21s team. Across 12 appearances in the Premier League 2 this term, he has netted six goals and assisted two more. That included a hat-trick against Everton and a brace against Chelsea.

He has featured in Nottingham Forest’s first-team squad for a number of Premier League games and made his debut for the senior team in an FA Cup tie against Bristol City last term.

The young striker seems to have the skills, and certainly possesses the potential, to be a good attacking option for an EFL club.

However, the Imps do not need that. They already have it.

The aforementioned Draper and Jovon Makama have come through the City ranks and are proud examples of a strong youth system. They have been joined by Sheffield Wednesday starlet Bailey Cadamarteri on loan.

The latter is currently sidelined with injury but even that does not provide a reason to add another inexperienced attacker to the ranks.

It would run the risk of bloating the options available to Michael Skubala, as while different plans and players are a good thing, there is certainly a case for there being too much of a good thing at times.

Adding Gardner would cross that barrier.

He is clearly someone who could go far in the game - top-flight sides do not give game time and exposure to their academy players for nothing - but he is not a good fit for Lincoln right now.

Lincoln City have a good mix of youth and experience after Derby County signing

Ben House was the most experienced head in the Imps attack until last week when Derby County striker James Collins switched the Rams for Lincoln.

The 34-year-old netted off the bench on his debut, as Skubala’s side romped past rivals Peterborough United in a chastening defeat for Darren Ferguson and his team.

His quality as a goalscorer, with over 200 senior career goals to his name, marries perfectly with his know-how and longevity in the EFL. Together they provide the mix of exactly what Lincoln needed to add to their squad.

The Sky Bet League One promotion winner has balanced the pendulum between youth and experience in City’s front line.

To sign another player on the former of those categories would undermine the signing of Collins and bloat Lincoln’s attack when it needs solidity and consistency.