Ray Winstone issued a plea to Declan Rice to stay at West Ham and become a legend like the great Bobby Moore.
The actor and diehard Hammers fan also called on his club to build a team around the midfielder, 21, who first broke into the West Ham team in 2017.
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Rice, who can also play at centre-back, has settled in brilliantly at West Ham.
He scooped the club’s Hammer of the Year award last season, while also winning the young player prize in both 2016/17 and 2017/18.
His displays have seen him gain recognition elsewhere, with Gareth Southgate making him a regular fixture in the England squad, convincing Rice to switch allegiance from the Republic of Ireland.
Given his string of superb performances, it’s no surprise Rice has been linked with a move away from West Ham – Chelsea reportedly the favourites to land him if he leaves.
And while Winstone accepts Rice is to some extent a big fish in a small pond at West Ham, he insists there will be rewards if he stays at the London Stadium.
“Whatever the boy’s on there, it’s not enough,” Winstone told Thursday’s talkSPORT Breakfast. “You want to keep that boy and build a team around him.
“If he was to stay there he’d become another Bobby Moore. He’d be a legend.
“He’s a big fish in a small pond in a way but there’s no reason why the club can’t become a big club. If he goes to a team like Chelsea he’s not necessarily going to play every week.”
Rice and co. have made a decent start to the season as they find themselves in eighth position in the Premier League table.
And Winstone has been pleasantly surprised by West Ham’s results, especially after the dismal home defeat by Newcastle on the opening weekend.
“I’ve had 63 seasons of this and after the first game against Newcastle I thought, ‘I can’t go through another year of this’,” Winstone added.
“I had a little moan about it on Instagram and even my daughters told me off for it!
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“But Moysey [David Moyes] has done something very special. I’ve taken to a couple of the players, they love him.
“From that first game, to see players walk onto that pitch with a smile on their face, you know you’ve got half a chance.
“To me it doesn’t matter if you don’t win… if the players are out there giving it a hundred per cent then that means the world to me. It’s not about going out and winning 1-0.”
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