Zakuani plans to stop on at Stoke

Gabby Zakuani has made eleven starts for Stoke this season (Getty).

On-loan Stoke defender Gabriel Zakuani has admitted he would like a permanent deal at the Britannia Stadium.

The 21-year-old, who is in his second loan spell with the Potters from Fulham, now believes his long term future could lie in Stoke-on-Trent.

"The gaffer said he'd like me here so I'll wait and see what happens in the summer," Zakuani told BBC Radio Stoke.

"Obviously Stoke would be my first choice but you always think where you will be wanted the most."

Gabriel Zakuani on his future with Stoke

Zakuani, who first joined the Potters in January 2007, spent the remainder of last season at the Britannia.

He rejoined City for a second loan spell in August and will remain with Stoke until the end of the season.

"The best thing for me to do is to wait and see how the season pans out," said the DR Congo international. "I'm happy here, but I'm also happy at Fulham so it's not a bad choice to be making.

"There's a few things for me to discuss, like how much they value me and how much I want to move, but basically I will be taking the best offer that comes along."

Any deal may yet be affected by the two sides' respective league positions come May.

As things stand, Stoke could be playing Premier League football next season. And, to add a significant touch of irony, they could well swap places along the way with Zakuani's parent club Fulham, who are 19th in the top flight and one of the bookies' leading favourites to go down.