Gary Neville thinks Chelsea fan favourite is on his way out after what he saw happen against Middlesborough

Gary Neville thinks Chelsea could be making a mistake if they choose to sell one first-team player in January.

Mauricio Pochettino's side booked their place in the Carabao Cup final on Tuesday evening, thanks to an emphatic 6-1 win against Championship side Middlesbrough.

Michael Carrick's men had previously won the first leg 1-0 only to be blown away at Stamford Bridge, thanks to an own goal from Jonny Howson and strikes from Enzo Fernandez, Axel Disasi, Cole Palmer (2) and Noni Madueke.

Chelsea will now face either Liverpool or Fulham in the final, which is set to take place on February 25 at Wembley Stadium.

Despite the win, questions have since been raised regarding the role midfielder Conor Gallagher played in the fixture, after he was benched and only came on for the final 26 minutes.

A decision which Sky Sports duo Neville and Bill Leslie thought was telling, given the rumours that are currently circulating regarding the player and a possible move to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

"Are Chelsea really going to sell him?" Neville said.

To which Bill Leslie replied: "Well if you are in the camp that think that they might, the fact he was left out tonight, does that tell you anything?"

Neville added: "Yeah, that’s what I thought when I saw the teamsheet come through. It’s come to a point where by you’ve spent that much money you’ve got to sell one of your own, who is playing pretty well, to fund it.

"I think even more now because of the amount of changes that Chelsea have had at this club. You want to have that connection still with the fans.

Gary Neville in action for Sky Sports

"When things aren’t going particularly well you want to have those players who are fans, who are genuine Chelsea fans.

"Mason Mount was another one – I know it hasn't quite worked out for him as yet at Manchester United – but it would’ve been great, for me personally, to see him still here because I think he would have been a big-part player at this club but finances and rules.

"I don’t think they’ve got anyone who can play in the way Conor Gallagher plays and it would be a big blow for them. But unfortunately I think some of these decisions are out of their hands because of the decisions they’ve made over the last 12 to 18 months."

Chelsea are one of many clubs who have chosen to sell homegrown players, who act as pure profit on the financial accounts given the lack of transfer fee paid for them, in order to fund their immense spending elsewhere in the squad.