Former Manchester City defender Danny Mills has warned Manchester United that Chelsea could easily walk away from their obligation to buy Jadon Sancho if they no longer feel the need for him.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Mills suggested that Chelsea’s vast squad means they wouldn’t hesitate to pull the plug on the deal if Sancho doesn’t prove his worth.

“Jadon Sancho is one of about 5000 players Chelsea have on their books at the moment!” Mills said.

“If they want to send him back to Manchester United and terminate their obligation to buy, £5m is absolutely nothing to Chelsea – they’re not going to be bothered about that and it’s not going to affect them in any way.

“I reckon Chelsea will be looking at the situation and thinking, ‘if we decide to keep Sancho, it’s going to cost us a lot more than £5m’. From a business perspective, if they don’t want him, then it’s a pretty cheap price to pay in order to get out of it.

“You have to assume that Chelsea will probably go heavy again in the summer transfer window. Has Sancho been good enough to warrant a place in that squad? I’m not sure he has been, so he could well end up finding himself back at Manchester United at the start of next season.”

Chelsea’s loan agreement for Sancho includes an obligation to buy for up to £25m if they finish 14th or higher in the Premier League. However, the existence of a £5m break clause adds an element of uncertainty to the deal.

Despite Mills’ claims, sources inside Chelsea insist the club still intends to go through with the transfer. Whether that remains the case as the summer window approaches remains to be seen.