Derby County fans may not like new Birmingham City transfer update | OneFootball

Derby County supporters will be frustrated by the possible move of former defender Eiran Cashin to Championship rivals Birmingham City.

Derby County supporters may well be finally feeling excited about the prospects of a Championship campaign for the first time in a long time, but they will surely feel frustrated by Birmingham City’s reported pursuit of former defender Eiran Cashin.

In March, former player John Eustace departed then top six Blackburn Rovers to return to Pride Park in order to steer relegation-battling Derby away from the bottom three and the relegation places in the second-tier, which he successfully did so with their survival being mathematically confirmed on the final day of the campaign thanks to a goalless draw at home to fellow strugglers Stoke City.

In this summer transfer window so far, as the Rams begin a rebuild, several experienced first-teamers have left, such as Nathaniel Mendez-Laing to name one, with Eustace bringing in some intriguing players.

Danny Batth and Eustace’s former Derby teammate Andreas Weimann have followed Eustace from Blackburn Rovers on free transfers, whilst Carlton Morris, Patrick Agyemang and Richie O’Donnell have all also made permanent moves to the club.

They will want their squad to become a bit younger as the summer goes on, but things are certainly looking up and, with Eustace at the helm, they will seek something special next season.

However, it will come as immense frustration to Derby supporters to learn that one of their former favourites could be joining a club in the same division as them, especially with that club having been in League One last season.

Derby fans will be disappointed by Cashin’s possible move

According to The Mirror, Birmingham City are now in pole position to bring in Republic of Ireland centre-back Eiran Cashin on a season-long loan deal from Brighton and Hove Albion.

The Blues set a new EFL points tally record last season in League One, and they are now looking to be even more ambitious by mounting a serious challenge for Premier League promotion.

The arrival of Cashin would only go to further strengthen that desire, but it comes at a cost for Derby supporters, who will have to recognise that Birmingham have perhaps usurped them in the second-tier pecking order without the season having even begun.

Mansfield-born Cashin came through the impressive academy of Derby, where he arrived in 2009, before departing the club in the January transfer window of 2025, having made nearly 150 first-team appearances for the Rams.

Cashin broke through in the second-tier, before establishing himself as one of the most promising defenders in the EFL whilst in League One, becoming a key man of the Derby side that gained automatic promotion from the third-tier in 2024.

His ability on the ball marked him out as an excellent modern day defender, hence the always smart recruitment of Brighton deciding to poach him mid-way through last season.

Those on-the-ball abilities matched by his incredible tenacity and defensive awareness made him perhaps more than just a fans’ favourite at Derby, and that is why it will sting their fanbase if he does indeed move to a Championship rival.

Derby could do with a player of the profile of Cashin

With one of the most experienced and oldest squads in the whole of the EFL, Derby did eventually managed to stave off relegation and set themselves up to rebuild this summer.

There is a knowledge and awareness that could do with becoming a bit younger in order to sustain themselves in the Championship, but their signings so far would represent a reluctance to move away from their current recruitment model.

A player of the age and profile of Cashin would seemingly be ideal for the way in which Derby want to move, especially as he was such an essential player for them just six months or so ago.

A move to Birmingham would not only showcase how strong a position the Blues are currently in, because surely Derby would want him back, but also put a slight dampener on the pre-season optimism at Pride Park.

John Eustace has proved himself to be a very promising manager, and Derby will believe they can kick on next season, but seeing Cashin move to St Andrew’s will certainly rankle with a lot of fans.