No player divides the fanbase at Bristol City quite like Famara Diedhiou who, depending on your orientation, is either a diligent workhorse whose best efforts often go unseen or a limited striker whose wild swings at goal induce fear in the stands.

As is usually the case with such polarised views, the answer is likely to be found in between, but what was perfectly clear towards the end of last season is that, for all the difference in opinion over his worth, for Lee Johnson he was indispensable.

From January 1 to the end of the season only Tomas Kalas (2,184) and Josh Brownhill (2,086) played more minutes than the Senegalese (2,080); and only Kalas (24) and Brownhill (23) completed 90 minutes more times than Diedhiou (20).

That was partly because of a lack of resources - he was City's only obvious central striker - but also because he remained fit, is an excellent professional who trains well and always fulfilled Johnson's game plan.

Johnson has always spoken warmly about Diedhiou and the unselfish aspects of his game that are enormous benefit to his teammates, making him a popular and invaluable member of the dressing room.

Despite City's public search for at least one new striker this summer, Diedhiou's place in the overall first-team picture is thought to be as safe as anyone; if anything a new arrival in attack would ease the burden on him and make the Senegalese more productive.

That is why a midweek report published on Get French Football came as such a surprise with Diedhiou discussed as a target for Championship rivals Cardiff, West Brom and Huddersfield with a price tag of £8m-£10m mentioned.

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The apparent accuracy of that story was swiftly debunked by Wales Online's Tom Coleman insisting that, "sources close to the player have played down suggestions of a move away this summer, claiming that the forward has returned to pre-season training and is looking forward to the campaign ahead with the Robins."

Huddersfield Examiner reporter Steven Chicken then detailed it was his understanding that, "Huddersfield links to Bristol City striker Famara Diedhiou that have emerged this afternoon are unlikely to have anything behind them."

Although Diedhiou had delayed his return to pre-season, he reported back to Failand on Thursday and all was once again right with the Famara Diedhiou Appreciation Society.

However, Bristol Live can reveal the situation is rather more tangled than writing off the above as a denial of an already spurious rumour.

The origin of the story in France does have credibility and lies within the slightly complex representation Diedhiou has since arriving at Ashton Gate from Angers in 2017.

Since moving to England, Diedhiou has been represented by London-based International Sports Consulting, who have helped him settle in the country and would deal directly with Bristol City in the event of any contractual issues.

But Diedhiou still has representatives in France who have worked with him since he broke through at third tier side Gazelec Ajaccio five years ago and operate with the 26-year-old on a more personal level.

And this is the fundamental reason why there have been two conflicting accounts as to his position at Bristol City, and what it means in the transfer market.

His English-based representatives maintain that Diedhiou is happy at Bristol City, has no plans for a transfer and any links with Cardiff are wide of the mark.

However, the story over the Channel is a very different one, indeed.

Bristol Live understands intermediaries working on behalf of Diedhiou have made it known that their client is very much open to a transfer to fulfil his ambition of playing in the Premier League.

Part of City's pitch to Diedhiou two years ago was that the club could be a launchpad to the top-flight, helping him integrate into English football and then advertise his ability to clubs higher up the division.

His 13 goals in 41 games have since been advertised as evidence of his ability at Championship level, all achieved while playing for a defensive-minded team. And it has further been pitched that he is more than capable of improving that production with increased service.

Cardiff have been specifically targeted due to Neil Warnock's desire for a striker and while reports that negotiations have not taken place are accurate, it is our understanding he remains under consideration at the south Wales club.

The primary issue for those clubs who have been contacted is the quoted fee of £8m-£10m; an amount that few Championship will be willing or able to pay this summer due to the EFL's stricter Financial Fair Play regulations.

However, there is a wider strategy being played that by making clubs known of Diedhiou's apparent availability now, if other transfers can not be finalised as time ticks towards August 8 and the close of the window, they have ready-made emergency option in Bristol.

There was a theory that all this noise is essentially to help earn the 26-year-old a new contract at BS3, with his present deal expiring in 2021, or that Diedhiou was concerned over his first-team place due to the Robins aggressive moves in the market.

However, this is not the case. It is purely surrounding the potential of a transfer to advance his career.

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Whether or not Diedhiou himself is actively and actually seeking a move is a different matter altogether, and one that can hopefully be answered over the next few weeks following his return to pre-season training.

But it's a difficult and complex situation that provides an insight into the baggage that can come with signing players who have representation beyond one defined agent.