Harry Redknapp says he would love to keep Niko Kranjcar at QPR permanently after the play-maker’s impressive start to life at Loftus Road.

Kranjcar made his debut in QPR’s 2-0 win over Middlesbrough two weeks ago and was influential again as the Rs defeated Barnsley by the same score on Saturday.

The Croatia international has already said he would like to turn his season-long loan from Dynamo Kiev into a permanent deal, and Redknapp admitted he would be keen to keep him.

“Niko’s a good player. He’s got 70-odds caps for Croatia, who have produced some fantastic players over the years,” said the QPR manager. “He’s a really good player and will get fitter with games. I took him to Portsmouth and Tottenham and I’m pleased to have him here now. He’s a smashing fella, a great lad.

“You would love to have him here [permanently], but the end of the season is a long way off, so let’s see what happens this year at QPR. I don’t know exactly what the situation is. They [Dynamo Kiev] paid a lot of money for him. We’ll have to see what happens.”