Paul Pogba, a Manchester United midfielder, may miss the rest of 2021 after injuring his thigh while on duty with France.
According to initial reports from the France camp, the 28-year-old would be missing for six to eight weeks.
Pogba will be able to negotiate pre-contract terms with overseas teams by the end of the year, since his United contract expires in June.
He will miss two Champions League group games and up to ten Premier League matches if he is out for eight weeks.
Due to injuries, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is already without a number of players.
Raphael Varane, Pogba’s international teammate, is out with a hamstring injury, while Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani missed last Saturday’s defeat against Manchester City, and England left-back Luke Shaw was withdrawn in the same match after a head injury.
Shaw is still recovering from a concussion and did not join the England team on Monday.