Han-Noah Massengo is set to end his Bristol City exile and return to France on a loan deal with Auxerre which will bring him to the end of his Robins contract.
The 21-year-old hasn't featured in a matchday squad since the 3-0 defeat to Birmingham City on October 8 and given his decision not to extend his contract in BS3, has fallen well down the pecking order in Nigel Pearson's first-team plans.
Instead, Massengo has been playing with the Under-21s while the club and player sought a solution to his immediate future. As first reported in L'Equipe, the midfielder's time at the Robins is finally very close to coming to a conclusion as he heads on loan to the Ligue 1 club.
Bristol Live understands the reports are accurate as Massengo will be tasked with trying to keep them in the top-flight with the club sitting five points adrift of safety. The article also suggests Auxerre will pay the player's wages in full.
Massengo left France in the summer 2019 when he departed from Monaco for Bristol City in an initial £2.7million deal with added clauses that could have taken the fee up to £7m. He will leave on a free transfer in the summer with the club receiving nothing more than a nominal compensation fee because of his age.
Earlier this month, Nigel Pearson admitted there had only been tentative interest in Massengo with Belgian giants Anderlecht one of the clubs interested. City were hoping to sell him during the summer and receive a transfer fee after he opted against extending his contract but no clubs came forward.
Speaking in a press conference, the manager said: "At the moment, for Han-Noah it’s a difficult situation because it is one that has been fashioned by himself in many ways and it is unfortunate. We just have to see what happens.
“Players have to evaluate what the risk is if they choose a certain route. The door is never closed on him. If we’re talking about fast-tracking players from our academy, if they’re good enough and they step up and do well, he will take somebody’s place, that’s life.”
Massengo has fallen behind academy players Dylan Kadji and Omar Taylor-Clarke while Francois Marlee and Olly Thomas also made the substitute bench in the FA Cup victory over West Brom on Saturday. Pearson named eight substitutes despite having nine at his disposal.
He has been stuck on 99 appearances and there has been a suggestion that City would need to pay former club Monaco an additional fee as part of a clause in his contract if he reached a century of games. Pearson said he was unaware of the details of his deal following his move in the summer of 2019.
Auxerre have lost their last five in the league and coincidentally, Massengo could make his debut against former side Monaco on Wednesday evening if the deal goes through.
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