West Ham midfielder Josh Cullen is on the verge of completing a move to Anderlecht having failed to break into David Moyes’ plans in east London.
The Hammers academy graduate has been sidelined having tested positive for covi-19 12 days ago but had made just one appearance for the first team this season prior to that in the victory over Hull City in the Carabao Cup.
Cullen spent the past two seasons away on loan at Charlton Athletic and also had a spells at Bradford City and Bolton Wanderers.
The 24-year-old is set to leave permanently this time though football.london has learned the Hammers will put in a sell-on clause into any fee they receive from the Belgian’s for Cullen.
The midfielder has been with the Hammers since the age of nine and made his first team debut in 2015 when he came off the bench in a 3-0 victory against Lusitanos in a UFA Europa League first qualifying round first leg.
Despite excelling outside of the top flight, Cullen has made just ten first team appearances since making his debut five years ago.
Earlier this month, Cullen said he was “feeling as good as I ever have” but seemingly now his future will lie away from east London.
“Everyone’s journey is different,” he said.
“I think sometimes people think that I’m 24, and if I was good enough I’d be playing by now, but you see teams buy players who are 25 or 26 from the Championship, so I don’t see the difference between that and me going there and getting experience and getting games.
“I could have stayed around at West Ham, but I wanted to go out and get games, develop myself and improve myself and become a better player so when I do eventually get the chance here and I’m lucky enough to break in and get some games, then I’m the best player I possibly can be here, and I’m a better player for having gone out and playing those games.
“The old saying is that ‘age is just a number’. I’m 24 now and I’m feeling as good as I ever have and I’m good to crack on.”
Cullen will be the second academy graduate to the leave the club this summer if his transfer goes through, followingbGrady Diangana out of the door in east London. The winger was sold to West Bromwich Albion for £18million earlier this summer.
