Burnley's Josh Cullen has been named Player of the Season at Turf Moor, capping off a fantastic year for the Irish midfielder. After being sold by West Ham United for just £500,000 in 2020, Cullen has played a crucial role in Burnley's Championship-winning campaign under Vincent Kompany.
Cullen's influence on the team was clear from the outset, with his passing ability allowing Burnley to adopt a possession-based style of play.
The midfielder racked up an impressive 71 passes per game, with only one other midfielder in the whole of the second tier managing to average more.
Despite his success, Cullen remains humble, crediting his teammates for their performances throughout the season. Winning the Players' Player of the Season award is proof of just how highly regarded he is by his fellow players.
As Burnley return to the Premier League at the first time of asking, Cullen will undoubtedly be eager to prove himself against his former employers. With his talent and work ethic, it is clear that Cullen has a bright future ahead of him.
In other news, Pochettino targets Chelsea signings
In a bid to kick-start his reign at Chelsea, Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly set his sights on signing three players this summer. According to the Daily Mail, the former Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham boss wants to bring in a new goalkeeper, central midfielder, and striker during his first transfer window at Stamford Bridge, with a preference for players who have Premier League experience.
Pochettino's desire to bring in a new goalkeeper could spell bad news for current Chelsea shot-stoppers Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy, both of whom have faced criticism during their time in west London. Meanwhile, the Argentine coach wants to sign a midfield partner for Enzo Fernandez, who was signed for a record-breaking fee last summer, amid speculation that N’Golo Kante could leave Stamford Bridge this summer.
Chelsea's need for a new striker is also clear, with Kai Havertz being forced to operate as a No.9 for much of this season, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struggling since his move from Barcelona. While Romelu Lukaku is set to return from his loan spell at Inter Milan, Pochettino could decide to cash in on the Belgian forward.
However, the new Chelsea boss will also need to offload several players to trim the club's bloated squad and raise some funds. Despite being impressed with the talent at Stamford Bridge, Pochettino is keen to bring more experience to a club that is currently 11th in the Premier League following a difficult season.
Caretaker manager Frank Lampard, who replaced Graham Potter last month, has faced a tough time since taking over, losing the first six games before securing a much-needed 3-1 win over Bournemouth last weekend. Lampard acknowledged the challenges facing the team but expressed his satisfaction with the recent victory, stating, "It's a nice step forward for the lads."
Chelsea will hope to build on their recent win when they face relegation-battlers Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. As for Pochettino, he is expected to take over at the club imminently but is set to wait until the end of the season to begin working with the squad.
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Burnley's Josh Cullen has been named Player of the Season at Turf Moor, capping off a fantastic year for the Irish midfielder. After being sold by West Ham United for just £500,000 in 2020, Cullen has played a crucial role in Burnley's Championship-winning campaign under Vincent Kompany.
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