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Chelsea’s preferred transfer outcome this summer involving Nicolas Jackson has run into a temporary setback, with interested club Napoli yet to make any formal approach, according to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.

The Blues are looking to move on the 25-year-old striker, who appears not to be part of manager Xabi Alonso’s tactical thinking at Stamford Bridge.

Jackson spent the 2025/26 season on loan with German heavyweights Bayern Munich, scoring 11 goals in all competitions. But after returning to West London, it has become clear that a permanent exit, or at the very least a loan deal containing an obligation to buy, is still the preferred solution for everyone involved.

Napoli have shortlisted Jackson as one of their possible attacking reinforcements, along with Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee and Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus, as they look to reshape their forward line.

However, Di Marzio says the Serie A club are delaying the start of official talks.

Napoli’s decision-makers first need to complete an outgoing deal before they can commit money towards signing a new striker, with Dutch winger Noa Lang having been linked in recent days with Ajax, Galatasaray and Atalanta.

This hold-up leaves Chelsea in a tricky position as they try to reduce the size of their squad before the transfer window shuts.

The club’s hierarchy are determined not to see a repeat of recent years, when highly paid players were pushed into the so-called ‘bomb squad’ and made to train away from the main group.

The need to find a move for Jackson is increased further by rules linked to squad management. FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) now punish clubs that isolate senior players.

Under those guidelines, making professional footballers train on their own without normal coaching, sports science or medical support is regarded as abusive behaviour, which gives players legal grounds to end their contracts with just cause.

In addition, FIFA’s international loan limits allow clubs to send out only a maximum of six senior players on loan each season.

That means Chelsea cannot depend on their old method of placing unwanted players in large numbers on overseas loan deals.

Chelsea need Napoli to sort out their outgoing business quickly so that talks over Jackson can restart, enabling the Blues to confirm their squad list without risking a breach of the ‘bomb squad’ regulations.