Kalas: Boro Have Blues Approval  (Sky Sports)

Chelsea are happy with the schooling some of their young players are receiving at Middlesbrough, according to Boro's latest loan star Tomas Kalas.

That is the view of new loan signing Kalas, who has joined Kenneth Omeruo and Patrick Bamford at the Riverside Stadium to work under Jose Mourinho's former number two, Aitor Karanka.

Kalas, who spent the first half of the season at Cologne, told the Northern Echo: "I think the people at Chelsea like what Middlesbrough do.

"I'd already heard about Middlesbrough because I could have come here before, but I chose to go to Germany instead.

"That didn't go as well as I thought it would, but it meant that when Middlesbrough were interested again, I already knew what the club was all about.

"Kenneth is here in his second year and has done very well, and Patrick is here too after his successful loans.

"That just shows you that the people at Chelsea must be really pleased with the way Middlesbrough improve their players.

"It was in my mind to come here, and it quickly became clear that it was also in Chelsea's minds too."