http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6212000,00.html

Didn't we sign a young Croatian keeper Mateja Delac a few months ago?

Didn't we sign a young Croatian keeper Mateja Delac a few months ago?

What I was thinking.

We signed him about a year ago but he won't join us till next year (which pretty much sounds like the same deal we have rumoured to have signed with this Czech lad) - not bad thing to have competition to prove yourself as the next first team keeper (if either of them turn out to be that good)

How can they be so sure it's us when they "cannot confirm the club's name yet?" Sounds like bull to me...

I couldn't find anything on him apart from that fact it seems not long ago he was a central defender! i hope this doesn't count towards one of our three supposed players that are coming in. I mean he must be a real talent if all those clubs were scouting him but i do wish we would of found another English goalkeeping talent instead.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6212000,00.html

Chelsea are reported to have snapped up teenage goalkeeper Tomas Kalas from Sigma Olomouc.

The Blues are just one of a number of clubs to have been tracking the 17-year-old shot-stopper, and are believed to have won the race for his signature.

Juventus, Inter Milan and Bayern Munichhave all expressed an interest in the promising Czech over recent weeks, while Bayer Leverkusen thought they had reached an agreement at one stage.

However, the situation has developed further since then, with Arsenal and Chelsea having joined the hunt.

Arsene Wenger is reported to have spoken to Kalas personally in effort to tempt him to Emirates Stadium, with their reputation for nurturing young talent well known.

It appears, though, as if the Gunners have been pipped by their Premier League rivals.

Reports in the Czech Republic claim Chelsea have paid £5million to land the youngster, but are not prepared to publicly announce the signing just yet.

Negotiations

That has forced Sigma to also play their cards close to chest and refrain from naming the club involving.

They have, however, admitted that a deal has been struck and that the player is on his way.

"A spell at a top European club for Tomas Kala was successfully arranged today," read a statement on the club's official website.

Kalas' agent has also admitted to an agreement being reached, but has again stopped short of announcing the identity of his new employers.

"We cannot confirm the club's name yet," Pavel Zika told sport.cz.

"Negotiations were very difficult and I am glad they are behind us now, especially for the good of the player."

It is believed that Kalas, who has made only one senior appearance in the Czech top flight, will return to Sigma on loan for 12 months before moving to England full-time.

I didn't see him in action, but I guess that it would be nice transfer.

Didn't we sign a young Croatian keeper Mateja Delac a few months ago?

We did yes, maybe this new keeper will be his Czech mate.....

sorry.

I couldn't find anything on him apart from that fact it seems not long ago he was a central defender! i hope this doesn't count towards one of our three supposed players that are coming in. I mean he must be a real talent if all those clubs were scouting him but i do wish we would of found another English goalkeeping talent instead.

Sam Walker, our 18 year old academy keeper has always looked pretty good when I've seen him, so I still have hopes for him but then I'm no expert on keepers.

Still, at 6'6 he certainly has the height!

Umm...he's a centre-back.

Umm...he's a centre-back.

Quality reporting from Sky...

I was gonna say I'm sure hes CB

SSN have screwed up - Kalas is indeed a centre back, not a GK.

They do actually say that he's a centre back in the first paragraph, the fact that they later refer to him as a stopper could cause some confusion though.

They do actually say that he's a centre back in the first paragraph, the fact that they later refer to him as a stopper could cause some confusion though.

They edited the original article where he was called a goalkeeper.

I guess this means (1) the scouting network is producing results and (2) we have our own pull in attracting young talent, especially ahead of Arsenal. Both of these things make me happy, although I have no idea how good the boy is or will turn out to be.

I guess this means (1) the scouting network is producing results and (2) we have our own pull in attracting young talent, especially ahead of Arsenal. Both of these things make me happy, although I have no idea how good the boy is or will turn out to be.

I think until we see at least one of these youngsters make an impact for the first team it's difficult to assess how well our scouting system is.

I think until we see at least one of these youngsters make an impact for the first team it's difficult to assess how well our scouting system is.

That players making an impact for the first team doesn't tell us much about our scouting system as much as it tells about our youth academy(and the quality of our first team).

Edited June 18, 201016 yr by Maksimov

The new trend to try and snap up keepers at a young age is a strange one, as the deals almost never work out. I'd far prefer to just sign a strong, experienced keeper to give genuine competition to Cech.

The new trend to try and snap up keepers at a young age is a strange one, as the deals almost never work out. I'd far prefer to just sign a strong, experienced keeper to give genuine competition to Cech.

This lad isnt a keeper, hes a central defender.

Yeah, I got a little confused there, just ignore me.

Yeah, I got a little confused there, just ignore me.

Will do......

Sam Walker, our 18 year old academy keeper has always looked pretty good when I've seen him, so I still have hopes for him but then I'm no expert on keepers.

Still, at 6'6 he certainly has the height!

Yip, from what I've seen, he looks decent

We have enough young keepers anyway. Turnbull, Sebek, Walker, Delac (in 2011). How many do we actually need?

But, why sign this Kalas guy, we have enough centre backs aswell in JT, Alex, Ivan, Carvalho (if he stays), Bruma, Hutch, Chabolar (he's only in the youth, but he's an England U18s regular).

Edited June 19, 201016 yr by Ruh Buh Juh