Manchester United defender Eric Bailly has been ruled out until Christmas after undergoing knee surgery.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed Bailly, who suffered the injury in a pre-season friendly against Tottenham in Shanghai, will be out for up to four to five months.
Bailly suffered a similar injury in his right knee last season, which ruled him out for a similar length of time, and his injury jinx has struck again, with the centre-half potentially out for the rest of the year.
Solskjaer, speaking after United's 1-0 win over Kristiansund in Oslo, said: "Eric has had an operation and will be out for four to five months.
"Hopefully we'll have him back around Christmas time."
Bailly's injury could force United to increase their bid for Leicester defender Harry Maguire.
United have had a £60m bid rejected for Maguire, but are understood to be willing to go to £70m for the Leicester and England centre-back.
Leicester are demanding £90m with Maguire fearing the Foxes are pricing him out of a move to Old Trafford.
But the injury setback to Bailly could force United to return with a new bid that is closer to Leicester's valuation.
Phil Jones started in central defence with Victor Lindelof in the pre-season friendly victory over Kristiansunds.
But Solskjaer wants reinforcements and a new partner for Lindelof, with Maguire remaining United's No.1 target.
