Chelsea striker Danny Welbeck with manager Xabi Alonso inset
Chelsea striker Danny Welbeck with manager Xabi Alonso inset
That is the opinion of experienced former Tottenham, Aston Villa and Everton scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
The Blues were happy to part ways with both strikers but have been left short in attack, winning just one game from their last four without Joao Pedro.
Jackson was sold to Villa in a deal worth up to £65million and the 25-year-old has scored nine goals in his first 14 games for his new club, including four in his last three Premier League games.
Delap was sold in a deal worth up to £50m for Nottingham Forest, with the striker netting twice in a superb performance against Manchester City on Saturday.
Chelsea's struggles without Pedro were summarised by a blunt attacking performance in Sunday's 1-0 defeat to Sunderland, with Pedro Neto unable to make an impact through the middle.
Defeat.#CFC | #SUNCHE pic.twitter.com/HxLPNDWYhM
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) November 8, 2026
'Chelsea have got to start looking at themselves'
Few would have argued with the sales of Delap and Jackson in the summer, with both players outcast at Stamford Bridge.
But it was expected that at least one of them would be replaced, with Xabi Alonso now resigned to opt for makeshift solutions in the absence of Pedro.
The Spaniard does have the option of Danny Welbeck, but has been hesitant to give the striker more than a brief appearance off the bench.
"They sold Delap, then they sold Jackson and they've only got one out and out centre-forward, really," King told Football Insider.
"They've been using [Morgan] Rogers and Neto up front and I can't see them as centre-forwards. Chelsea have got themselves to blame.
"They were moaning and groaning when they got beaten by Tottenham, because Pedro was injured and couldn't play. So Rogers went up front and didn't look very effective at all to me.
"They got well and truly beaten at Sunderland. They didn't turn up."
Chelsea season cannot hinge on one player
Pedro has been missing since the visit of Tottenham in October, and Chelsea will hope he returns after the international break.
But should he not, Alonso must come up with a plan - the Blues cannot rely solely on one player.
Whether that will require the Spaniard to swallow his pride and trust Welbeck, it remains to be seen.
"Even when we win, when we lose, we miss some players that we have injured and for sure we are waiting for them to come back because they are important," Alonso said on Sunday.