Arsenal centre-back William Saliba could be sidelined for several months after his back injury playing for France.
The 25-year-old has had a heavy workload for club and country over the past year, and he had been nursing a back issue heading into the World Cup.
Saliba managed to stay unscathed for most of the tournament until his early substitution in the semi-final against Spain on Tuesday.
The Gunners star was visibly in agony as he dropped to the ground and was soon replaced by Maxence Lacroix in the 30th minute.
Arsenal or France have yet to provide the exact nature of the problem, but French outlet L’Equipe claim it could be a huge concern.
The outlet understand that the Premier League champion played beyond the pain barrier with immense courage and strong painkillers.
A back surgery is now a likely outcome after Tuesday’s setback. Arsenal anticipate Saliba will miss four to five months of action next term.
Arsenal could enter transfer market for new centre-back
It was already reported that Saliba may undergo a minor back procedure after the World Cup, and that could now become a certainty.
The Saint-Etienne graduate has played through the pain barrier for some time, but he crossed the threshold during the semi-final against Spain.
His absence meant Les Bleus lacked control from central defence. Spain’s second goal came after Lacroix left Pedro Porro with acres of space to shoot.
Meanwhile, the setback is a huge concern for the Gunners, with the new Premier League season underway against Coventry City in just over a month (August 21).
Saliba will have a three-week break after the World Cup campaign, but it looks likely that he may undergo a procedure that could sideline him for a while.
This could mean he may be out for at least a few months. Arsenal may not want to rush him back into first-team action, given that back injuries can recur if not carefully managed.
We have already covered an opinion on Arsenal’s need to sign an experienced centre-back, and Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa could emerge as a prime target.
Stats from Transfermarkt