Chelsea midfielder Mario Pasalic likely to sign new deal at Stamford Bridge when Elche loan ends

Croatia starlet Mario Pasalic will return to Chelsea where he is likely to sign a new contract when his loan deal with La Liga side Elche expires at the end of the season.

Pasalic, 20, completed his move to the Premier League side from Hajduk Split in July 2014 but less than two weeks later, he left Stamford Bridge to complete his season-long move to the Spanish club.

In an interview with Croatian newspaper Slobodna Dalmacija, he explains how his time in La Liga has helped him develop both physically and tactically in a division he identifies as "the best league in the world".

Chelsea have kept close contact with the Croatia international throughout the season and while Pasalic will be sorry to leave Elche, he will return to the west London club later in May.

"I am often in touch with [Chelsea's technical director] Michael Emenalo, he keeps calling me," Pasalic said. "They send me videos of my games with hints and suggestions of what to fix in the game and how."

Slobodna Dalmacija add Pasalic will return to his parent club to sign a new contract, despite signing a four-year deal with the club in 2014. Such a development could pave the way for another loan move next season.

Chelsea took a similar approach in the summer of 2014 when Spanish midfielder Oriol Romeu returned from his loan spell with Valencia. The 23-year-old penned a new three-year deal but within weeks, he left to join Bundesliga side Stuttgart for the 2014-15 season.

Pasalic, who won his first international cap against Cyprus in September 2014, also reveals he initially had the option to join PSV Eindhoven on loan but wanted to move to Spain where he believes the football is more complex and demanding than in the Netherlands.

He said: "Primera is for me the best league in the world and I knew I had to adapt if you want to survive."

The midfielder has made 30 league appearances for Elche this season and has been a regular in the heart of midfield since the turn of the year. While playing a deep-lying role in midfield, he has contributed three goals in his last five starting appearances for the club.