The last two Bristol City players to feature at a World Cup would end up leaving the club midway through the tournament.
Hordur Magnusson went to the 2018 competition in Russia following two years in BS3 and started in their opening group game against Argentina on June 16. Just four days later, it was announced that CSKA Moscow agreed to sign the defender.
Twelve years prior to that, right-back Luke Wilkshire was representing Australia at the 2006 tournament in Germany when Zinedine Zidane infamously ended his career with that headbutt. At the beginning of July manager Gary Johnson confirmed he would be leaving the club on a free transfer.
As the old adage goes, bad things come in threes as Antoine Semenyo made his World Cup debut in stoppage-time in Ghana's 3-2 defeat against Portugal on Thursday. The following day speculation linked the striker with a move to Rangers with the Scottish side reportedly considering a move in January.
Bristol Live understands no contact has been made but the noise surrounding his future has started to emerge again following a few months' hiatus since the start of the season. There were no concrete offers during the summer but Crystal Palace and Bournemouth were two Premier League clubs showing an interest.
There's little point in beating around the bush, it's a matter of when and not if Semenyo leaves BS3 and the two realistic windows are either in January or the summer. His contract expires at the end of the season but City have the option to exercise that deal for an extra 12 months.
Even with City's latest bleak financials, there isn't a need to cash in during the January window. The club remain within the threshold of avoiding a points deduction by around £12m but the summer remains a different kettle of fish.
City can't afford to risk letting him leave for nothing and they will need to avoid a similar Han-Noah Massengo situation with the Frenchman available to sign a pre-contract with a foreign club once the January market opens. There's also the prospect of his transfer value deteriorating closer to the expiration of his contract.
That's why his tournament in Qatar could have a significant impact on his transfer value and could sway the decision to stick or twist in January. They have two games to salvage their competition, starting against South Korea on Monday before taking on Uruguay on Friday.
Judging by the opening game, there's every chance head coach Otto Addo could utilise Semenyo as a bit-part player from the bench - a striker who can make an impact in the latter stages which he did so effectively during the first couple months of the season.
At the risk of stating the obvious, just one goal at the tournament will put him in the headlights of the clubs who have been tracking his progress or scouting him since his prolific second half of last season. West Ham, Brighton and Celtic are just three of those teams but there's undoubtedly more lurking in the shadows.
When the final whistle went in Qatar and Semenyo sat in the Ghana dressing room after the game, he could have afforded himself a minute or two to acknowledge his journey to that point in his career. As Brian Tinnion noted after the full-time whistle on Twitter, it was only five years ago when he was at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College before City became aware of his potential.
Nigel Pearson has been dropping the breadcrumbs by hinting that the club may have to trade their way to success in January by cashing in on one of the club's main assets in order to improve the defence. He's made it no secret that bolstering the backline and adding reliable new faces remains at the top of the priority list but that can only happen should a player, or players, leave.
Alex Scott and Tommy Conway are the other two names that would generate significant revenue through sales but Semenyo's contract situation as mentioned above means he would be the most likely to be moved on. Considering City's league position, just one point above the drop zone, Pearson will have to weigh up the risk vs reward factor in the New Year.
What's more imperative? Keeping Semenyo and relying on his talent to help fire City up the table or using funds to improve a defence that even Pearson admitted would continue to concede soft goals should they fail to sign new players?
With Kal Naismith and Tomas Kalas out injured and Timm Klose struggling form, the lack of depth at the back has been exposed. On the other hand, Conway's emergence this season and Nahki Wells' resurgence means competition for places going forward is relatively healthy.
There's also Sam Bell who continues to wait in the wings while consistently scoring for the Under-21s. His appearance in four of the last five matchday squads is evidence that he is playing himself into contention.
From City's perspective, decisions and tough ones will need to be made in January, if they are continuing to look over their shoulders. For Semenyo, his mind will be at the forefront of helping Ghana progress from their group until his return to BS3.
The Rangers links feel like the start of what could be an uncertain next couple of months for the City forward.
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