Kalas not ready for Chelsea return yet

Chelsea loanee Tomas Kalas has revealed that he is very likely to stay at Vitesse for another season.

The Czech defender joined the Eredivisie side on a one-year loan deal at the start of the 2011-12 campaign, and has since developed into a key player at the Dutch team.

The 18-year-old was initially expected to return to his parent club at the end of the season, but Kalas has now stressed that he does not feel ready to make the step up to Chelsea’s first team just yet.

“It’s important for a young player to get plenty of playing time. At clubs such as Chelsea, Manchester United and Bayern Munich, you don’t get much first-team action at my age, but my time will come. I’m convinced of that. I’m only 18 and still have plenty to learn at Vitesse,” Kalas told Goal.com.

“It’s 99.9 percent sure that I will stay here. The parties involved have yet to reach an agreement, but I expect to stay at Vitesse. I know that a new coach will arrive at Chelsea, but I’m very happy here.

“Returning to Chelsea wouldn’t make much sense at this point. Other teams from England have also approached me, but the offers I received weren’t good enough. I don’t think someone should make that step until you’re ready for it. I’m not at that point yet.”

The centre-back stressed that it is still his dream to play at Chelsea though, and added that he wants to succeed club icon John Terry in the long-term.

“My biggest dream is to return to Chelsea at one point, and to take over John Terry’s role at the club,” he said.

“I still have a long way to go, though. I don’t want to be exactly like Terry, but it would be great if I could become a first-team regular at Chelsea, and even wear the captain armband.”

Kalas started his professional career with Sigma Olomouc and joined Chelsea in the summer of 2010.