Ousmane Dabo has revealed that the English Premiership would be his preferred destination should his bid for a contract extension at Lazio be rebuffed.The France midfielder is contracted to Lazio until June 2006 but he is ready to call time on his seven-year stint in Italy if the Rome giants decide against offering him a new deal.
The 28-year-old, who joined Lazio two seasons ago having previously played for Internazionale, Vicenza and Atalanta, admits a move to England would be high on his list of priorities and would relish the chance to turn out for one of the Premiership's leading clubs.
"This is going to be my third year with Lazio and my eighth in Italy," said Dabo, who was called up three times by France in 2003.
"I have one year left on my contract. Either the club renew my contract or I leave. I will meet with the president in August.
"I am playing in a high-flying side even if Lazio has lost some of its prestige. I am a first-team member and I am well considered.
"But Lazio could well ask me to find a new club and that's why I am preparing myself.
"I played 150 matches in Serie A and for a foreigner this is not bad. I feel very proud about it.
"This is a very tough league and I believe I am capable of playing somewhere else with the experience I have gained.
"I was a success in Italy, it proves I am capable of playing in other leagues reputed to be tough and difficult too.
"I would like to play in England and in a club that fights at the top of the table like Manchester (United) and Arsenal.
"I know Thierry Henry, we played together with the Under-21 national team.
"I am very attracted by the Premier League."
Dabo is keeping his options open though, and has not ruled out the possibility of returning to France where he had short spell with Monaco five years ago.
"If I end up in France I would love to join Marseille, this is the club of my heart," he explained.
"But Lyon and Paris St Germain are also big sides likely to interest me.
"However, I know Monaco and I don't want to return there as I have already played in 2000."
Dabo started a total of 26 matches with Lazio last season and insists he will treasure great memories from his spell there despite recurrent problems regarding racism.
"When people say Lazio they think this is a racist club with what happened with (Paolo) Di Canio," added Dabo, referring to an incident in January when the Lazio striker was accused of making a fascist-style salute at the end of the derby against Roma.
"I have never had any problems personally since I arrived at Lazio," Dabo continued.
"The supporters tell me that when they do monkey chants it's only to wind us up.
"They don't have the same vision as me on that problem. I have tried to make things progress for the better.
"Football is very important in Italy and there is always a very active minority at Lazio who create racist troubles.
"It's not always easy to play in such conditions because the atmosphere is tense but somehow it motivated me because I showed them that a coloured player can be a success too."
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