Leeds United have confirmed that Gaetano Berardi could miss up to ninth months of action after suffering a knee injury against Derby County.
The Whites' defender was stretchered off at Pride Park after half-an-hour during United's 3-1 win over the Rams.
Berardi's current contract at Leeds runs out at the end of the season and unless he signs an extension at Elland Road, he will have played his last game for the club.
A club statement on Monday said: "Leeds United defender Gaetano Berardi suffered an ACL tear in his knee during Sunday’s Sky Bet Championship fixture with Derby County.
"Berardi, who was replaced in the 33rd minute of the match at Pride Park, had scans today which confirmed the injury.
"The defender who has made 25 appearances for the Whites during the campaign, in which Leeds United won the Championship, now faces up to nine months on the side-lines.
"We wish Gaetano a speedy recovery."
With Berardi's injury ruling out any realistic chance of an extended stay at Leeds, the club will need to address a lack of numbers at centre-back this summer.
Ben White is set to return to Brighton as things stand, leaving Liam Cooper as Marcelo Bielsa's only senior centre-back option.
Andrea Radrizzani hinted at transfer activity over the coming days during an interview with the press on Monday, however.
"Yes, definitely quality over quantity," he told the media when asked about potential additions this summer.
"We are very careful to identify the players with the right characteristics in the positions that we need, but also that they fit the character of the players that fit in our group.
"We put as a priority to defend the spirit of this group that we created. As you can see the players are united, it's very important we prioritise that in management."
