STAGS' hopes of landing transfer target Tom Pope seem to be further away than ever.
The Crewe striker was on Mansfield manager Billy Dearden's wanted list as he struggles to bring in new players on loan during the January transfer window.
But last week Crewe assistant manager Neil Baker said: "While Mansfield would take Tom tomorrow, we can't do that at the moment because of the numbers we have got up front."
- Loan target staying out for now
And on Wednesday it was revealed that Crewe's major transger striker target, Stuart Fleetwood, had turned down a £175,000 move from non league Forest Green Rovers.
That decision, coupled with Crewe's problems in bringing in former forward Steve Jones from Burnley - as well as having a bid for Bury's Andy Bishop rejected - mean that Pope is unlikely to be released to the Stags.
And the 22-year-old, who had not featured in the first team since October, also scored on Tuesday night as a substitute in the 2-1 defeat at Swansea.
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