Han-Noah Massengo looks increasingly set to see out his contract at Bristol City and leave in the summer with the Robins then likely to receive nothing more than compensation for the out-of-favour midfielder.
Nigel Pearson admits Massengo’s situation is unfortunate, with the 21-year-old having declared earlier this season that he has no intention of extending his terms at Ashton Gate and, as a consequence, has fallen well down the pecking order.
Given his expiring contract, the Frenchman’s value has depreciated from being one of the Robins prized and most saleable assets - as referenced by Pearson when he first joined the club - to a free agent for interested parties this summer, who will at least owe City compensation once a deal is concluded.
Given that increasing inevitability, outside of some tentative interest from Belgian giants Anderlecht, there has been few enquiries for Massengo over the course of the month and his situation remains largely the same.
“No,” Pearson said, when asked if there had been any change in his circumstances. “There’s been nothing of any note or consequence apart from there was talk about Anderlecht. I haven’t heard anything of note about that.
“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. “In the meantime, we’ve got other young players who have stepped in the fold and have done very well.
“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.”
The academy midfielders who have been fast-tracked at the expensive of Massengo have been Dylan Kadji, who made his debut against Wycombe Wanderers on August 24 and has appeared in 14 matchday squads, making a further three appearances, and Omar Taylor-Clarke who made his debut in midweek against Swansea City in the FA Cup.
With Matty James, Alex Scott, Andy King, Joe Williams and now Kal Naismith, following his conversion into a defensive midfielder, also ahead of him in the central role, conceivably Massengo may have played his final game for the club, back on October 8, 2022 at Birmingham City.
Intriguingly that appearance, in a 3-0 defeat, was his 99th in the Championship since signing from Monaco in 2019 and there has been some suggestion that rolling that into triple figures could invoke an extra payment to the Ligue 1 club. However, Pearson insisted he was unaware of such a stipulation in his contract.
And, although not conclusive evidence to the contrary, Massengo was on the bench for City’s 0-0 against Watford in November, which would have opened up the possibility of a 100th league game in City colours.
“I’ve got no idea about it, I don’t think it’s got any relevance anyway,” Pearson added. “I’ve got no idea, it’s a question for somebody that looks at contracts.”
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