Declan Rice wants Jesse Lingard to remain a West Ham player beyond the end of the season after his quick start to life on loan from Manchester United.
The United academy graduate joined David Moyes' side until the end of the season during the January transfer window after falling out of favour with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Lingard hadn't started a Premier League match for United in over a year before his move to the London Stadium, having become a mere squad player at Old Trafford.
Since moving south, Lingard has scored three goals in four matches for the Hammers, including the winner against Tottenham on Sunday, something which moved West Ham up to fourth in the table.
His impressive performances have caught the eye of his new West Ham teammates, none more so than Rice, who played alongside Lingard on international duty with England.
The West Ham vice-captain has hinted he'd like to see Lingard's current loan deal extended beyond the end of the season after such an impressive start.
“Jesse is a top player," Rice told talkSPORT. “I knew this from when I played with him for England. He’s a ridiculously top, top player.
“You know when you’re playing with a top player, he takes the ball on the half-turn, takes the ball in tight areas, relieves the pressure on you.
“When you give him the ball you know he’s going to do something with it, and obviously what comes with that is he’s got a great personality as well.
“All the lads have really taken to him and I’m so happy we’ve got him here now at West Ham. Hopefully we can do that for much longer for next season as well!”
