After 10 years with West Ham, Josh Cullen decided the time was right to leave the club last October with first-team opportunities few and far between in east London.
Belgian side Anderlecht landed the 24-year-old for just £450,000 (Transfermarkt), and Cullen has been making the Hammers pay ever since according to Sport/Foot Magazine (via Sport Witness).
Billed as ‘Super Josh’, the central midfielder has played 21 times for the Jupiler Pro League side this season and has become an instrumental figure under former Manchester City star Vincent Kompany.
The report claims Cullen’s market value has ‘tripled’ in the space of five months, a figure that is backed up by Transfermarkt’s pricing tool, which now stands the Republic of Ireland international’s value at £2.34m.
Cullen represented the Hammers first-team on just 10 occasions, spending three spells away from the London Stadium out on loan.
OPINION
Although we aren’t talking astronomical figures, it’s hard to feel the Irishman would’ve been of value to David Moyes this season.
Combative midfield duo Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek have been worked without rest in the Premier League, with only Mark Noble available to offer respite.
Whilst it perhaps became unfair to hold Cullen back further, he almost certainly would’ve been beneficial to the Irons this term.