The Hammers midfielder is currently on loan at Charlton where manager Lee Bowyer is keen to sign him permanently.
But a £4 million fee plus wages could inhibit a move to a club which has been involved in a heavy cost cutting exercise over recent months.
Cullen’s heart appears to still be at the London Stadiumwhen in an interview with the Evening Standard he revealed a conversation he has held with manager Manuel Pellegrini.
He said: “The manager was brilliant with me. We sat down and he said he would support me whatever I wanted to do.
“I thought I needed to be playing and he agreed. I can’t thank him enough for supporting me and making me feel at ease. He told me to go out, enjoy my football and improve and, hopefully, I’ll return to West Ham a better player for him.”
“I would love to play in that team, under Manuel and his staff. It is a good team, a big talented squad, but I know I have to keep working hard every day.”