Chelsea star Armando Broja is set to miss the rest of the season after being told he needs surgery on the knee injury he sustained in Sunday’s friendly defeat against Aston Villa, according to Evening Standard.

The 21-year-old has featured prominently under new Chelsea manager Graham Potter having enjoyed a productive spell on loan at Southampton last season.

An anterior cruciate ligament injury will leave the Albania international with a minimum of five months on the sidelines but it could be a maximum of 12 in the worst-case scenario.

Broja will undergo a surgery imminently but his chances of featuring again this term are remote and is more likely to be targeting a return in time for the start of the 2022/23 season.

Chelsea are now expected to sign a forward in January following the injury to Broja, with the Blues already being linked with a move for Borussia Dortmund forward Youssoufa Moukoko in January.

Moukoko has shone in the Bundesliga this term, scoring six goals in 14 appearances, and he became the youngest player to represent Germany at a World Cup when he came off the bench against Japan just three days after his 18th birthday last month.

Moukoko will be a free agent at the end of the season but the Blues are now reportedly set to push for his signing in January following the injury to Broja.