'Just stay' - Joe Cole urges Jesse Lingard to commit future to West Ham

Former West Ham player Joe Cole has urged Hammers loanee Jesse Lingard to stay at the club beyond the end of the season.

The 28-year-old left boyhood club Manchester United in January to aid David Moyes’ side in their unlikely bid to secure a spot in the Champions League next term.

Since then, he has scored eight goals in nine Premier League matches, assisting four more, and has been rewarded for his stellar form with a recall to Gareth Southgate’s England squad.

Lingard is set to return to his parent club at the end of the campaign, but is also said to be attracting interest from a number of high-profile sides, including Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Milan.

Speaking to talkSPORT, however, ex-Iron Cole argued that the playmaker should consider extending his time at the London Stadium.

He said: “If you’re at a club where you feel loved and you’re playing, just stay!

“There’s nothing better. Fans are going to love it when they come back in watching Jesse, he’s a West Ham player.

“I’m happy for him and the West Ham fans and I’m just hoping he doesn’t get tempted into maybe going to a bigger club because he’s found a platform for himself.”

West Ham are currently fourth in the table with seven games to play, and could move up to third if they beat Newcastle United on Saturday lunchtime.