John Barnes hopes Dimitri Payet remains at West Ham after this season but admits his head could be turned by "bigger opportunities".

The 28-year-old has arguably been the Hammers’ stand-out performer of the season since moving from Marseille in the summer, scoring six goals in 15 Premier League starts to date. But such has been his impact, it would not be a surprise if West Ham receive some sizeable offers for the Frenchman in the summer.

West Ham travel to Liverpool in the fourth round of the FA Cup tomorrow and speaking ahead of the game at the club where Barnes won two titles, he said of Payet: “For West Ham’s sake I hope he will stay because he’s been fantastic, he’s been their best player this season. They’ve missed him when he was out and he’s back now playing well.

“Once upon a time you would have thought that a player like that who came to West Ham would stay at West Ham but his head could be turned by bigger opportunities. I like to think not, I like to think he’ll show the loyalty to West Ham to stay, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he doesn’t end up staying.

“For the integrity of football, for someone who has come to the Premier League and been given an opportunity by West Ham, although they paid a lot of money for him and they did well to get him, I’d like to think that he will show some loyalty and stay. But you can never tell.”

West Ham are currently sixth in the Premier League and while they are in the race for European football, some fans may feel the FA Cup represents a good chance of winning a trophy this season. Barnes though, believes it is too early to make the competition a priority.

The former winger-turned-central midfielder, who first made his name at Watford, explained: You can’t prioritise as early as the fourth round of the FA Cup because West Ham are playing Liverpool away so the chances are that Liverpool will be favourite to win that game. And then of course you could get Man City away, Arsenal away… I don’t think you can prioritise until you get to the quarter-final stage because you don’t know who you’re going to play.

“If you prioritise the FA Cup, then all of a sudden your league form dips and you go out of the FA Cup, it’s a waste of time. You don’t know who you’re going to play, so no matter how much you want to go for it, you can’t prioritise this early.”