Gabriel Tamas wants to join Lazio

Gabriel Tamas has broken his silence on his Albion future and admitted he wants to join Italian club Lazio.

Defender Tamas, who dropped out of favour when Roy Hodgson took over as head coach, is hoping the two clubs can reach an agreement after admitting it is his "dream" to join the Serie A side.

Reports in Italy claim Lazio president Claudio Lotito is trying to broker a deal, which would see the Baggies get a £450,000 loan fee with an option to make the deal permanent next year for £2.25million.

The 27-year-old Romanian international joined Albion for an undisclosed fee last summer, thought to be about £1.5million, after arriving on loan during the winter and signed a three-year deal with an option in an Albion's favour.

But, with Hodgson in the process of re-shaping Albion's centre of defence, with Abdoulaye Meite released and Gareth McAuley signed, Tamas' exit now looks a question of negotiation.

He said: "My dream is to play in Italy for Lazio. It would be great, but I don't want to speak about the deal which is taking place.

"I hope everything goes for the best, and I am waiting for news from my agents. I like the Italian league, I know it well and follow it all the time.

"There are great teams and great players there – and I feel ready."

Tamas and fellow newcomer Pablo Ibanez were the picks of Hodgson's predecessor Roberto Di Matteo, admired for their technical qualities, but unable to prevent the mid-season slide that brought about their coach's demise.

After slipping down the pecking order under Hodgson, Tamas is now poised to follow goalkeeper Scott Carson, set to complete a transfer to Turkish club Bursaspor, out of the club.

Albion are hoping for decisions this weekend on midfield targets Zoltan Gera and David Vaughan.

And the Baggies have stepped up their interest in Birmingham's Liam Ridgewell.

[24link]