Chelsea defender Tomas Kalas opens door to permanent departure to Middlesbrough

Chelsea defender Tomas Kalas has admitted he would consider a permanent move from the Blues to Middlesbrough over the summer transfer window. The Czech Republic international says his intention is to keep playing regularly as he has managed to do during his successful spell on loan at the Riverside Stadium.

Chelsea signed the versatile defender in January 2011 from Sigma Olomouc as a hot prospect for the future. As with many other Chelsea players he was dispatched to Vitesse Arnhem for a season on loan before being rewarded by Jose Mourinho with his first-team debut in a League Cup victory over Arsenal in the 2013-2014 campaign.

Kalas, however, has since failed to break through into the Chelsea starting XI. The defender went on loan to Koln for the first part of the 2014-2015 campaign before making a move to Middlesbrough in January 2014, which was extended for the current campaign after he impressed Aitor Karanka during his first six months at the club.

Chelsea opted to commit his long-term future to Stamford Bridge by signing him to a new three-year deal, with hopes of him returning to West London one day.

But Kalas has now suggested he could make a permanent move to Middlesbrough after helping Karanka's side secure promotion to the Premier League, making 30 appearances, both as a right-back and in the heart of the defence.

"I don't know how many games I've played since I came, probably around 40, which is not bad in one and a half years," Kalas said to Gazzette Live. "That's why I came here, to play games, and hopefully I'll keep playing next season – maybe here.

"If I could get the deal (to move to Boro permanently) I would really think about it. Yes, why not!"

The Czech Republic international made a significant contribution to help Middlesbrough end the campaign with the best defensive record in the Championship, having conceded only 31 goals in 46 games to secure second place and earn an automatic promotion to the top flight.

"It's difficult to describe," Kalas added. "After this ending [of achieving promotion], everything is brilliant. It's difficult to put into words these emotions.

"It's been a successful year. We've started from nothing and built the team, and I'm just happy to be part of it. It was unbelievable to see the fans against Brighton. I don't think you have to say anything – even just in the warm-up it was amazing. We were saying 'are we playing in Wembley or the Riverside?'.