Tomas Kalas heading to Cologne, according to reports

According to Bild, Chelsea defender Tomas Kalas is set to spend the 2014/15 season on loan in the Bundesliga. The German paper are reporting that he'll be joining FC Cologne, who earned promotion to the top flight in May.

There have been rumors surrounding Kalas and Cologne for several weeks, and Bild doesn't tend to jump the gun on things like this (as far as I can recall). Combined with the talk last January and this summer about getting the defender regular minutes on loan, I'd be inclined to believe that there's something to this particular report.

Kalas impressed in his limited opportunities with the first team this season, but with John Terry and Gary Cahill firmly established as the top pairing at Chelsea, he'd probably be limited to very few appearances again. Combined with the arrival of Kurt Zouma, a loan to the Bundesliga might be in the best interest of his long-term development.

UPDATE

Here's 1. FC Köln's sporting director Jörg Schmadtke:

"Nothing is signed yet, but I'd like to think that he'll join us."

-source: kicker via ESPN