Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly shown reluctance in giving the green light for a deal to sign Dusan Vlahovic.
The Juventus frontman has suffered from a combination of injuries and a loss of confidence since joining from Fiorentina 18 months ago.
The Serbian showed electric form for La Viola, earning a €70m (£60m) move to the Allianz Stadium after netting 38 Serie A goals in a season-and-a-half.
However, in the 18 months since, Vlahovic has just 17 goals in the league, and often found himself out of Massimiliano Allegri's side behind Arkadiusz Milik.
The Guardian claims that the recent form of the 23-year-old is leaving Pochettino unsure over whether Chelsea should pursue a move for the striker.
Chelsea want additions in attack and further talks with Juventus are set to take place, with a potential swap deal involving Romelu Lukaku and Vlahovic on the cards.
Despite that, though, Pochettino will have the final say in whether a deal goes through and the manager's reluctance could have an adverse impact on Lukaku's future too.
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Lukaku wants to leave and he has not featured at all in pre-season for the club, but with interest from Inter Milan going quiet, Juve may be his last option.
After it was revealed that Lukaku was holding talks with Juventus at the same time as Inter, the Nerazzurri instantly pulled out of talks.
The recent injury to Christopher Nkunku being more serious than first feared may force Chelsea's hand, though, with the acquisition from RB Leipzig set for over three months on the sidelines with a knee ligament injury.
Nicolas Jackson is now Chelsea's only option up front heading into the season, after the exits of Kai Havertz and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Lukaku's banishing from the squad.
Despite Pochettino's reservations, adding Vlahovic would give Chelsea another option in attack, while also solving the lingering problem that not being able to sell Lukaku is causing.
Andrew Delaney
