OPINION
Josh Cullen opened up in a recent interview about his experience with West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini and should dispel any talk that he is set to join Charlton or any other club on a permanent basis.
The 22-year-old midfielder is currently excelling on loan at The Addicks and should have a bright future at the London Stadium if he continues progressing in the same way.
Cullen has revealed the advice Pellegrini gave him ahead of going out on loan and it should dismiss any idea the club will consider letting him go on a permanent basis anytime soon.
“The manager was brilliant with me. We sat down and he said he would support me whatever I wanted to do,” Cullen said in an interview with the London Evening Standard.
“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.”
Claret & Hugh previously reported that Cullen looked likely to sign a permanent deal with Charlton as the Hammers are ready to talks terms in order to offload the midfielder.
However it seems that Pellegrini wouldn’t tell Cullen to aim to improve and enjoy his football if he was going to write him off regardless of what he did on loan.
The promising midfielder is making the most of playing for Charlton, impressing in his displays, and it seems unlikely the Hammers manager would be ready to get rid him without another first-hand look at him at least.
Also the fact that Pellegrini said he’d support Cullen whatever he wanted to do, implies he wasn’t dismissive of the idea that the player would have stayed at the London Stadium rather than go out on loan, which shows he must rate the 22-year-old.
Then there’s also the fact that Cullen by vowing to return to the club a better player has clearly been given the allusion that Pellegrini would be open to giving him a chance.
So after Cullen has revealed Pellegrini’s advice to him ahead of his temporary exit it should, at least for now, dispel any reported exit talk regarding the midfielder.
