Birmingham's on-loan striker Mauro Zarate has insisted he does not want to return to Al-Sadd next season - as Blues are his "first choice".The Argentinian player - one of the stars of the 2007 FIFA Under-20 World Cup finals - has scored three goals in his last two games for Alex McLeish's side after signing for Blues in January.

Al-Sadd are looking to recuperate most of the £10million they paid Velez Sarsfield for his services last summer should they allow Zarate to leave.

But he has made it clear he wants to continue at St Andrews after the current campaign.

Zarate said: "There is a good chance for me to come back here on loan but I will not know until June. I want to stay in this country.

"Birmingham was the first team in Europe who wanted to sign me when I wanted to leave Qatar and Al-Sadd so they are still my first choice for the future.

"I always wanted to come to England. I love the atmosphere and the football. It was always the target to come here.

"I like the city of Birmingham. It was quite hard to live in Qatar but I am enjoying my time here.

"I just want to find the best thing for everyone to be happy. My target is to stay in England. I don't want to go back to Qatar. I just want things to be clear."

McLeish, whose side visit Wigan on Saturday, will step up his efforts to cling onto Zarate before the season ends.

He said: "We have to sow some seeds, we have to try and be positive about where he is going to be next season. We won't leave it to the very last minute.

"We certainly realise there are other big fish out there interested in him."

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