Youngsters Nathan Ake and Tomas Kalas will be playing for Middlesborough in the Championship next season. According to Goal, Chelsea have agreed to let the two players go out on loan to the Riverside.
Various sources have, however, reported that Mourinho will let the young duo move out in search of regular playing time. The London Evening Standard also claims that a deal has been agreed between the two clubs.
Middlesborough, whose manager, Aitor Karanka was Jose Mourinho’s assistant at Real Madrid have benefited immensely from the relationship as Patrick Bamford, another Chelsea player also played for them last season. The striker notched up 16 goals in 40 appearances and was awarded the best player in the division. The Englishman, in another news, has however spoken of his desire to return to The Blues and fight for a first team place with Diego Costa and Loic Remy.
Ake, who spent four weeks on loan with Reading last term, could only make 5 appearances (most of which were in cup matches) for Chelsea last term. Kalas, on the other hand played on loan for the Riverside club, making 17 appearances last season.
Czech international, Kalas, has seen his chance of staking a first team place in the heart of Chelsea’s defence limited. The English duo of John Terry and Gary Cahill have been impressive in that position. The 22-year-old has been sent out on loan on six different occasions during his Chelsea career (Squawka).
Dutchman Ake, 20, was part of the Chelsea team that won the UEFA Europa League under Rafael Benitez in 2013. He also got a winner’s medal in the League Cup triumph last campaign. Mourinho, according to the Standard, is however keen on how the Netherlands U-19 star would adapt and cope with the expectations of the Championship in England.
More importantly, the performances and progress of the players will no doubt be monitored, as Chelsea see them as likely contenders for starting shirts in the near future.