Derby County respond as Brighton & Hove Albion table Eiran Cashin bid | OneFootball

Derby have rejected Brighton's bid for Eiran Cashin.

Derby County have firmly rejected a bid from Brighton and Hove Albion for defender Eiran Cashin.

This is according to John Percy, who has stated the Rams' rejection in a post on X.

Cashin has been a key figure in Derby's defence since breaking into the first team in 2021, and he played a pivotal role in their promotion campaign from League One last season.

Aged 23, the Seagulls were keen on him 18 months ago but didn't meet the Rams' valuation of £3 million.

Rekindling their interest this month, his valuation would have far exceeded that now and with a contract running until 2027, Fabian Hürzeler's side will have to post a ridiculous offer for Derby to accept.

Derby reject Brighton's Cashin bid

Brighton's initial bid was first revealed on Monday evening as Pete O'Rourke reported the news via his X account.

Since then, it has emerged that this fee doesn't meet Derby's valuation, with Percy confirming that the Rams have rejected it.

According to the same post, this decision came from the 'very top' and those around the club have a strict no-sale policy when it comes to Cashin's availability this month.

One of the most technically gifted defenders in the division, Brighton's interest is no surprise, with Hürzeler placing a priority on possession-based football.

However, the Seagulls will have to provide a ridiculous bid now if they want to pick him up in January, and it seems most likely that Cashin will remain at Pride Park until the summer.

Paul Warne needs to retain Eiran Cashin

Derby's season has taken a downturn over the past six league matches, with the Rams securing just one win during that period. They now find themselves precariously above the relegation zone, with 22nd-placed Portsmouth just one point behind.

An issue during that period has been the lack of availability from Cashin, as the defender only just returned to action on Saturday following an injury he picked up in mid-December. This is something that has clearly been noted by those at the club, making the decision to reject the bid unsurprising.

Warne will be keen to ensure this stance remains firm in the final weeks of the window. When fit, Cashin has been in excellent form, consistently ranking highly in FotMob's key defensive statistics such as interceptions, tackles won, and recoveries.

It'll be interesting to see if Brighton return, but if they don't, then Warne will have one of the best Championship defenders at his disposal until at least the end of the season.