Chelsea defender Benoit Badiashile is set to be out until September due to injury, according to reports in the UK.
The France Under 21 international picked up a groin problem in training last week, and he missed the 1-0 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.
It appears Badiashile will be out for the long term and he will not be available for the start of next season.
It is a major blow for incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino, who would have been keen to work with the centre-back, considering his great form since he arrived from Monaco during the January transfer window.
The major beneficiary of Badiashile’s injury is likely to be Levi Colwill. The 20-year-old is on loan at Brighton until the end of the season but he will return to Cobham for pre-season training.
There have been doubts about the player’s long-term future at the club, with the likes of Liverpool and City circling. It has been suggested that Colwill may look to leave if he doesn’t get first-team opportunities.
However, Badiashile’s enforced absence should ensure that Colwill gets plenty of minutes at the start of the new campaign.