By Hughie Southon
West Ham are today being reported as possibly considering a move for former midfielder Josh Cullen.
The youngster left the club for Anderlecht two years ago under David Moyes when Vincent Kompany was boss of the Be;gian club.
However, with the former Manchester City player, now manager at Burnley, it is also being speculated that he fancies a reunion with Cullen this summer who comes out of contract in June of next season .
iNews claim that Premier League clubs – possibly including West Ham – want to sign Cullen but Burnley are now in the race.
Cullen however, was always desperate to force a way into the Hammers first team squad and should he be given the chance – over which there must be questions – he could well opt for a return to the club.
His agents Stellar have done business with the Irons in the but having sold the player in his first term at the club David Moyes may be reluctant to admit that perhaps he got it wrong about him which would be understandable.
And such a move is a very long way from the targets with which the Hammers boss has been linked since in James Ward-Prowse and Kalvin Phillips.
It also makes one wonder whether despite his love of the club in which grew up whether Josh would prefer to play in the claret and blue of a manager who fancied him sufficiently to buy him rather than one who let him go.
Difficult choice between the Premier League possibility and the Championship certainty.
I have watched Cullen recently, both for Anderlecht and for ROI.
A young Noble in disguise!
Tough tackling, accurate passing…. would make an excellent partner for Rice in midfield.
So where are the midfield genius’s we were meant to be after ? Still at the original club or at another. FAILED AGAIN. Here we go.
Not all new signings can be geniuses, that’s obvious.
An absolute catostrophic decision by Moyes in the first place by letting him go !!!!!!
How catastrophic? Has he gone and won anything anywhere else? Has he suddenly become anything other than an average, run of the mill payer?
You are right, but it is catostrophic in the way that Moyes went on to waste nearly £60 mil on Vlasic & Benrahma
Then why even mention Cullen? I, too am worried over the progress of Vlassic. I think the jury is still out on Benrahma and he could still, potentially, be a good signing. Anyway , it’s way too early to brand them failures and their tenure a “waste”.
This window has all the hallmarks of GSB a scattergun approach to signing players with lots of names linked none of which are firmed up with committed bids, look at Arsenal, City, Liverpool etc they have number one targets and they pay what it costs to get them, no long drawn out endless media speculation.
Whoever we are after it would be refreshing if we could get a deal accepted and done within a few days of an offer going in wouldn’t it ?
Moyes is making the selections no one else when he eventually makes up his mind
Hey Hugh, thanks for reply, if that is the case then Moyes is as bad as Sully or there is something else wrong (like for example the chairmen not being willing to pay the market rate for Moyes targets) which is causing Moyes to have a lot of irons in the fire, no pun intended.
The way I see it, rightly or wrongly if I was a player bid on by West Ham and knew they had also had live bids on several other players in the same position, I would think they are not sure what they want and I might say yes and find myself not getting signed anyway because another option was preferred. There are lots of other potential challenges with this approach, if a player lacks confidence they might not want to risk being embarassed by being turned down over another choice.
It’s better to do as those other clubs do, pick a target and fully commit to them so there is no uncertainty in the selling club, the player or their agent that if they say yes a deal is getting done.
The money is deffo there mate . I know that. Moysie really does need to make his mind up quicker. Anyway all views welcome my friend
Moyes has also said before he spends money likes his own… So I get the impression of he thinks a player is worth £10m but the club want £13m, even if the money & he wants the player he won’t spend it. Which I get but especially in this market sometimes you have to pay a little more & I’ve always been pay more up front less on wages coming in. He does take is time though Hugh you are right on that. I think everyone will be relieved when we sign a striker.
I don’t get & maybe we have but to in for Dennis or Cornet good age 24 & 25, both PL experience, fast hungry & versatile. Cornet can even play LB either one at £17-20m be a no-brainer to me b/c we need a left winger imo anyhow & then could still get an out & out CF in Borja if it happens.
As we’ve said before surely Moyes/Newman know their preferred targets and so it is frustrating that it takes so long every time. Even Areola, already ours with known wages and price has taken ages and encouraged interest from the Newcastle huge wedge. Can’t see DM going in for Cullen after letting him go.