West Ham United have scouted Anderlecht midfielder Josh Cullen again as they consider a deal to sign the Ireland international.
That’s according to transfer insider Dean Jones, who has told Give Me Sport about West Ham’s interest in Cullen.
Reports from TEAMtalk earlier this month suggested that West Ham were in the race to sign Cullen this summer.
Leeds United, Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers are also thought to be keen on signing Cullen.
West Ham sold Cullen for just £500,000 in the summer of 2020 and would face paying much more now.
Cullen, 25, joined West Ham at the age of just nine and played 10 firs-team games for the Hammers.
Cullen did have loan spells at Bradford City, Bolton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic but was eventually sold to Anderlecht.
Now playing regularly under Vincent Kompany, Cullen is showing West Ham that he can play a role in the Premier League.
Jones now claims that West Ham are keeping tabs on Cullen and have scouted him again recently ahead of potentially making a move.
“I was told they are keeping an eye on him. They have scouted him again and he could be someone they look to,” said Jones.
Hailed as ‘outstanding’ in every game by Lee Bowyer, Cullen always had potential but just found first-team football hard to come by at West Ham.
The situation may be changing now though.
Mark Noble is retiring this summer and Alex Kral is unlikely to stay after a disappointing loan spell from Spartak Moscow.
Tomas Soucek’s contract situation hasn’t been resolved yet and Declan Rice is a wanted man by many elite clubs around Europe.
Even if Soucek and Rice stay beyond this summer, they need competition in midfield and Cullen can provide that.
Anderlecht can expect a healthy profit on Cullen, but the midfielder’s West Ham dream could finally come true after all.
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