WEST Ham United midfielder Josh Cullen has joined Championship newcomers Bolton Wanderers on loan until the New Year.

The Westcliff-born 21-year-old was thought to be in Hammers boss Slaven Bilic's thoughts ahead of the new season following an impressive season-long loan with Bradford City last term and the sale of Havard Nordtveit.

But the Premier League club have now allowed Cullen and promising central defender Reece Burke to move to the Macron Stadium on a temporary deal.

It is understood there is also an informal agreement between the two clubs to extend the loans in the New Year until the end of the season.

Cullen and Burke have been involved on the Hammers' pre-season tours of Austria and Germany this summer, with both featuring in friendlies.

But the duo have been on the Trotters' radar all summer and had been heavily linked with last season's League One runners-up for some time.

Cullen has played four senior games for the Hammers but has also racked up nearly 60 appearances in League One and earned a call-up to the Republic of Ireland Under-21 team.