In the space of less than a week, Nigel Pearson's transfer priorities may have just taken a dramatic turn.
The manager had few plans at the beginning of the summer to bolster his frontline as he plotted to stick with the tried and tested Andi Weimann, Antoine Semenyo and Chris Martin trio - a prolific partnership that became one of the most feared forces among the Championship.
With Nahki Wells as more than adequate back-up, talented youngsters Sam Bell and Tommy Conway pushing for first-team opportunities next season and Alex Scott ready to be unleashed in a No10 role, Pearson understandably had other areas of the squad to focus his attentions on.
That he did, wasting no time in bringing in three players to fill problem positions of last season. Kane Wilson, perhaps one of the most important, is a welcome arrival at right wing-back, Kal Naismith undoubtedly strengthens a leaky defence and Mark Sykes adds versatility and creativity from midfield.
Pearson was still in the market for at least one new central defender, perhaps two now Robbie Cundy is set to sign for Barnsley, while a defensive midfielder also remains at the top of the transfer wishlist.
Semenyo's early return from international duty with Ghana after proudly making his debut raised a cause for concern having picked up a shin injury. While there weren't any initial fears over the severity of it, that became more and more ominous before he went sent to see a specialist after complaining of ongoing pain.
Then came the news of the extent of Semenyo's injury, ruling him out of pre-season and beginning of the season with September earmarked as a potential return to action. Depending on the recovery, City won't want to make a similar mistake to last year when he returned from a knee operation in August only to discover he wasn't in the right condition to make his comeback to the field.
He then had to wait until the beginning of December to make his first start of the season and from there, his campaign could finally take off as scouts from around the country came to watch him at his blistering best at times.
His injury is obviously a big blow to the player and Pearson but one which could have been worked around with options at Pearson's disposal as mentioned above. One positive from the news is that it almost confirms Semenyo will remain a Robins player into next season with transfer interest likely to cool over his future.
Then came the revelation that Championship rivals Preston are looking at Wells as an option to bolster their attack. Bristol Live could confirm that they have made an enquiry to City to determine his asking price before deciding whether to make an offer.
There's no doubt Preston want a striker and have been strongly linked with a move for Andre Gray, suggesting they have the budget to be able to pay Wells' City wages. Despite Semenyo's injury, City may find the opportunity to sell the 32-year-old striker and take his salary off the books too good an opportunity to turn down.
He has just one year left on his contract, and as one of the highest-paid players at the club, his seven league starts and three goals last season doesn't exactly scream value for money. Although that of course is no fault of his own, with Pearson praising his attitude and work-rate in training on numerous occasions throughout the campaign having had to bide his time in the pecking order behind his team-mates.
It's also no fault of his that he earns such good money having taken advantage of City's spending splurge of the 2019/20 campaign when he arrived for £5million from Burnley during the January transfer window. However, Pearson has spoken about the importance of fairer wage distribution among the squad and remains one of the reasons the club were so keen to allow Kasey Palmer to leave for Coventry.
That being said, City will save around £1million in Wells' wages should he depart this summer but it also leaves Pearson and the club in a tricky position going forward because they will almost certainly have to dip their toes into the market in an attempt to sign a new frontman.
That poses more challenges than one. Firstly, striking options on free transfers are already few and far between in the Championship. Some of the options include former Robin Benik Afobe, who is set to move to Club Brugge, Birmingham's Lukas Jutkiewicz, Andy Carroll and Lewis Grabban.
Secondly, many free agents across the divisions are likely to have made their decisions by now, with pre-season getting underway this week and their deals expiring on June 30, leaving little time to make their move if City can pluck out a gem.
That means, forking out for a striker probably remains the most realistic option but as we already know, Championship goalscoring forwards rarely come cheaply as City are not in the position to be spending millions on a player despite receiving an undisclosed fee in Palmer's move to Coventry.
There's also a difficulty in convincing a player to come knowing that opportunities are likely to be few and far between when WSM are fit and firing.
If Wells does leave and Pearson goes into the market, then one would assume he would be looking at a player in a similar mould to Martin. The target man was instrumental last season, making 43 starts - which for a player at the age of 33 in the Championship, is an achievement in itself.
Although he turns 34 this year and whether he can replicate those minutes on the pitch this time around and with a year left on his contract, it would make sense to find a player who is considering a like-for-like.
That though, is much easier said than done.
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