OPINION
West Ham now look set to avoid making a blunder when it comes to Josh Cullen as Manuel Pellegrini has reportedly been impressed by the midfielder.
The Hammers were thought to be willing to sell the highly-rated 22-year-old this summer as reliable club insider ExWHUemployee had previously shared on Twitter that Cullen was expected to be sold in the current transfer window.
Josh Cullen is also expected to be sold this pre season ⚒
— ExWHUEmployee (@ExWHUEmployee) July 7, 2018
However it seems that the Hammers are now set to avoid making the mistake of cashing in on Cullen as according to a report by Sky Sports Pellegrini views the player as someone who could play a part next season.
The well-known broadcaster reported on Tuesday that the Hammers manager had knocked back loan interest in the player as he had been impressed by the 22-year-old.
Sky Sports claimed that the reigning Republic of Ireland U21 Player of the Year was seen as potentially being of used to Pellegrini in the upcoming campaign and this had caused the manager to reject the idea of letting him go.
Cullen may have not consistently stole the show while on loan at Bolton and Bradford in recent seasons but he has consistently shown glimpses of his potential.
The promising central midfielder is a fantastic passer of the ball and would be an energetic presence in the heart of the Hammers’ midfield if given an opportunity.
David Moyes constantly witnessed his Hammers side get torn apart due to their lack of pace in the centre of midfield last season and Pellegrini will not want to see his side suffer the same problem.
Cullen could be the solution when it comes to that issue and could easily be used as a substitute in the final part of games in order to ensure that the Hammers keep going until the very end to ensure positives results.
While Cullen has made only three brief appearances in the Premier League for the Hammers in his career so far, if the club had opted to sell him it would have come back to haunt them.
The 22-year-old still looks like having a very bright future in future and whichever club would have picked him up permanently this summer would have benefit from the Hammers mistakenly opting to give up on him.
However it now seems that the Hammers look set to avoid making that potential blunder as Pellegrini’s reported view of Cullen provides hope that he is about to get a opportunity to breakthrough at the club.
