"Can't compete" - Claim made on Derby County, Eiran Cashin "dream" as Brighton plan revealed | OneFootball

FLW's Derby County fan pundit has been speaking on the potential for the Rams to re-sign Brighton defender Eiran Cashin this summer.

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk‘ series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Brighton & Hove Albion are set to loan defender Eiran Cashin out this summer, and Derby County know all about his quality.

The 23-year-old is a product of Derby's academy system, having broken into the first-team picture at Pride Park back in the 2021/22 season.

After a couple of fantastic campaigns for the Rams, Cashin was sold to Brighton in January of this year, in a deal worth a reported £9m.

The centre-back signed a contract with the Seagulls until June 2030, meaning they have plenty of time to enact patience with the Irishman, and that's precisely what they appear to be doing, as it's understood that Brighton will source Cashin a loan move away from the AMEX Stadium this summer.

"Would be amazing" - Derby County handed clear Eiran Cashin transfer advice

We asked our Derby County fan pundit, Shaun Woodward: 'Brighton are set to loan Eiran Cashin out this summer, with Championship interest in his services. Is it a pipe dream to suggest that Derby should enquire about him and make a move for him? Surely more likely to go to a club with a bigger budget, but if you don't ask, you don't get?'

Woodward said: "That really is the dream, isn't it?; make £9/10m on a player for him to come back on loan within a season.

"I would love to say that it's going to happen, but realistically, I think the teams that have just been relegated from the Premier League and the ones that are going to be fighting for the top automatic spaces will probably be the ones that will be favourites to get him.

"We just can't compete with those big hitters at the moment sadly, financially. But, it's not to say that we can't dream. You never know, he might say 'if there's going to be a club I go back to, it's Derby' because of his connection and affiliation with the club.

"But money does talk, and realistically, we're not going to be able to offer what some of those other clubs can offer. Brighton will probably want to go with one of those, purely because they won't have to supplement his wages as much at those clubs.

"But, we can dream. It would be amazing to see him back in the Derby colours because he's an absolute beast of a centre-half, who is one of the best ball-playing centre-backs we've had in many years.

"So, it would be lovely to see him back, but I just can't see it."

Brighton have clear Derby County, Eiran Cashin dilemma

It appears that Brighton have decided to loan Cashin out this summer, but the bigger decision will surely be where to send him.

Given the sum of money they spent to acquire him and the lengthy contract they handed to him in the previous winter window, they no doubt see him as being a big part of their future.

As such, if it is to be the Championship that Cashin is sent to for the 2025/26 season, then the Seagulls will surely have a tough call to make regarding Derby County.

The Rams will no doubt be interested in exploring a potential deal for their academy star, and with how impressive and rapid his development and progression was at Pride Park, lending him back to County for a season definitely makes clear attraction from a Brighton perspective.

However, the Premier League side may wish to see how he handles a different environment other than Derby, as Pride Park may be the safe pick in some regards, but would it be the right one for the sake of building Cashin's experience?

Should a newly relegated side present an offer for Cashin, he may naturally have a better chance of being part of a Championship promotion-winning squad, and that could also do wonders for his confidence and development too.

Therefore, a fascinating summer lies ahead in the future of Cashin, as he will undoubtedly be one of the hottest names on the Premier League loan market for second tier clubs this summer.