‘Unfortunate’: The transfer state-of-play of out-of-favour Bristol City midfielder

The French midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season
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Han-Noah Massengo’s Bristol City career is coming an unfortunate end with no move away from the club in sight, revealed Nigel Pearson.

The 21-year-old is out of contract in the summer, and has fallen down the pecking order after his representatives did not entertain an offer of an extension last summer. Academy players like Dylan Kadji and most recently Omar Taylor-Clarke have been preferred over him with an emphasis on rewarding those who have a long-term future at the club.

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Massengo was included as a substitute against Swansea in the FA Cup at the start of the month, but has been absent from numerous match-day squads, despite being allowed nine substitutes at times. He remains at the club and trains with the first-team, but features more now for the Under-21’s.

Speculation has died down after a raft of clubs from the Premier League, Bundesliga and Ligue One were linked with him, with Anderlecht emerging as a new contender, but that interest is not believed to go any further.

"No, there’s been nothing of any note or consequence apart from there was talk about Anderlecht," said Pearson about any potential exit avenues for the former Monaco midfielder.

"I haven’t heard anything of note about that."

Massengo has been at Ashton Gate for four years but in that time has not scored a goal and has just three goal contributions. His last involvement in a goal was supplying Antoine Semenyo in a 2-2 draw last January.

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He arrived in the West Country with much promise, especially given he played for Monaco in the UEFA Champions League. Sitting on 99 appearances for the club, Massengo has worked under three managers, but is no longer in Nigel Pearson’s plans.

Pearson has been up front and honest with the player with no malice behind his exclusion. The former Leicester City manager cannot afford to include players that will not be in his plans beyond this season.

"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."

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