Colchester United, Mansfield Town and Walsall transfer saga unfolding in early January | OneFootball

Colchester United are interested in signing Danny Johnson from Mansfield Town as they bid to pull themselves clear of trouble in League Two.

According to Alan Nixon, reporting on his Patreon account, Colchester are keen to add more firepower to Matt Bloomfield’s struggling squad.

It’s claimed that Johnson has caught the eye with his impressive performances on loan at Walsall in the early part of 2022/23, where the 29-year-old has struck 13 times in 28 appearances across all competitions.

Johnson’s 11 goals in League Two have lifted Walsall to ninth and just two points adrift of parent-club Mansfield, who occupy the final play-off spot.

Naturally, Nixon reports how Walsall want to retain Johnson, yet Mansfield have fielded contact from Colchester who want to sign the striker. It’s conceded that if an auction unfolds this month, it might be difficult for Walsall to retain their loan ace.

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Whilst Walsall and Mansfield are looking up League Two, Colchester are nervously looking over their shoulders amid the threat of dropping out of the EFL.

They currently sit 21st and five points clear of the relegation zone, yet the bottom two of Rochdale and Gillingham have two games in-hand over Bloomfield’s side and could claw them back into trouble.

Colchester need to do something this January to pull themselves clear of trouble and it’s not hard to see why they’ve got an eye on Johnson, who is enjoying a really good season.

The fact he’s almost between two clubs suggests that he might be getable, particularly if Colchester can afford to table an offer to Mansfield.

Add in the fact that Mansfield could weaken a play-off rival in the process of accepting an offer, it might be a saga to keep an eye on this month.