Rangers are hopeful of extending Gedion Zelalem's loan, which is set to expire in January. Ian MacNicol/Getty images

Rangers manager Mark Warburton has said he's hopeful that his side can extend the loan of Gedion Zelalem from Arsenal.

The 18-year-old U.S. youth international arrived at Ibrox in August on a six-month loan, but is set for a return to London in January.

Zelalem has started seven of Rangers' 10 competitive fixtures since his move to the Scottish second division, and his importance to the team has not been lost on Warburton.

"I hope he is very much enjoying it, the relationships between the clubs are good and I hope very much that we can keep him," the manager is quoted as saying in Glasgow's Evening Times.

"We always talk with Arsenal and we talk about how he is progressing. They watch him every game. They look at every touch the player makes, they look at data, runs made, jumps made.

"It's a detailed science now. They look at whether their assets are improving and it is up to us to make sure they get the information they need."