Two months is a long time in football; and two months is an especially long time in football when it's during a global pandemic of which the financial implications are tearing the game apart.

The landscape of professional football and, in particular, the transfer market is ridden with uncertainty: how much can clubs to spend? What is the benchmark now for player valuation? What sort of wage budget will teams be operating with?

There are no definitive answers and until the transfer window opens on June 10, everything at this stage is just theory and forecasts, especially with the actual destiny of the 2019/20 season yet to be decided.

In Bristol City's case, Lee Johnson and Mark Ashton's inbox is already full before they even broach the subject of recruits beyond dealing with the current first-team squad.

As well as the contract status of Korey Smith, Ashley Williams, Niki Maenpaa, Matty Taylor and Bailey Wright is what to do with loanees Benik Afobe and Pedro Pereira.

Both were signed in the summer transfer window until the end of the season and both have been successes, to varying degrees, even when Afobe's impact is caveated by his ACL injury.

Pereira has adapted admirably to the intensity of the Championship, provided key back-up to first-choice right-back Jack Hunt and been, in many ways, the more reliable defensive presence.

The Portugal Under-21 international has made 12 Championship starts, with a further six appearances off the bench, and has looked increasingly assured with each performance, also chipping in with two goals and an assist.

If this season has been the baseline for what the 22-year-old can achieve in a red shirt, his potential ceiling looks very exciting indeed. However, what was an increasingly straightforward transfer decision is now more complex.

According to reports in Portugal this week, as first detailed by Bristol Live in March, the fee to turn Pereira's loan from Benfica into a permanent deal is €6m (£5.38m).

That amount represents roughly two-thirds of what City paid for Tomas Kalas last summer and would be their third-biggest transfer fee spent.

However, in Pereira they are buying a serious talent from a major European club, and that comes at a major price.

But what may have been a simple yes or no is now clouded with more conjecture from Johnson to Ashton to weigh up the pros and cons of spending such an amount on a right-back in the current climate.

Unsurprisingly, City's fanbase is split over the decision after being posed the question on Bristol Live's Twitter and Facebook pages, with the pick of the opinions detailed below (some have been edited for spelling and accuracy) ...

Liam Moffatt: "£5m seems alot. Defensively better than JH but not as good going forward. Age and pedigree on his side though. £3m + a sell on/buy back would be good business imo."

Matt Milkins: "Looked better as the season went on, only really need him & Afobe. Bring back some loan players and we'll have a good squad. Can even let a few go to balance the books."

Pedro Pereira takes on Barnsley's Toby Sibbick

Seb Counsell: "Yeah he's 22 so still has a good ten years to develop into a better player that's peanuts money these days."

Joe: "A lot of money in the current climate and dont know what wages he would be on but he is better than hunt and feel he will get better, this is why I'm rubbish at football manager."

Ponts: "Solid player, young, seems to work hard. I'd pay up to £4m. Not sure about £5m."

Paul Vezey: "I don't think clubs will have the cash no longer to pay such fees. Players are going to have to expect more reasonable wages. I think youth is the future and we seem to be blessed with good youngsters who have developed away from the club. Good time to go with youth."

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Should City sign Pedro Pereira for £5m?

Scott Thomas: "Not now considering the financial situation due to this virus."

Sam Allward: "Don't pay anything for anyone in current climate. Values are going to plummet. Time to make (even more use) of the academy."

Christopher Green: "We need competition at right back . And he has shown some glimpses of quality . With a good run in the side I think he could become a great player for us. But 5 million? Glad it's not my money."

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Andrew Card: "He’s not a £5m player by any stretch of the imagination. £2-3m tops. I’d rather go & buy the best right back in league 1 - whoever that might be."

Dave Featherstone: "In a normal market, a 22 year old and a u21 international for Portugal would have a lot of merit. However, the post-covid world we are about to enter makes it a no from me at that price.

"If you can re-negotiate then yes. But let’s not forget we aren’t gonna get as much for any of own players either....and we need to sell a fair bit before we buy (assumes ffp rules don’t change). I do like him a lot though."

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Nic Price: "He’s not shown he’s worth that amount, but then LJ works in mysterious ways."

Nick Griffiths: "Get your chequebook out, Mr Lansdown. He’s class."

Neil Skuse: "5 million nope not worth that on what I have seen. Should have kept Luke Ayling big mistake that."

Roy Veale: "Not £5 million- different world now - half that maybe."

Stephen Hall: "Think 5 is a little high but need a solid back line with him, Jay, Kalas and Tayls."