Exclusive: What Lee Hendrie thinks about Derby County moving to re-sign Eiran Cashin from Brighton | OneFootball

The 23-year-old is set to depart the Amex Stadium on loan this summer, and Lee Hendrie feels a return to Pride Park would suit him

Former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie believes that Derby County should lead the race to sign former academy product Eiran Cashin from Brighton this summer.

However, the current Sky Sports pundit did say that a scenario could arise where a front-runner for the Championship title may register their interest, and the Premier League side may choose to send the 23-year-old there instead.

Cashin departed Derby in January after 144 Rams appearances to sign for Brighton in a deal worth £9 million, but after failing to crack into the starting lineup for Fabian Hurzeler's side, he may be sent back out on loan to stay sharp and gain more first-team experience.

Express Sport are reporting that Cashin has suitors in both the Bundesliga and the Championship, and if a return to the second tier is on the cards, a move back to the club he spent his entire youth career at would be a simple way for him to continue his promising career.

Lee Hendrie gives verdict on race to bring in Eiran Cashin on loan

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Lee Hendrie said he can definitely see Derby County putting their name in the ring for potential Eiran Cashin destinations as the centre-back prepares to move on loan next season.

"I think, to be quite honest, he knows the club very well and needs to get some game time and play some football," he said.

Hendrie did bring up the fact that Cashin may attract clubs higher up the division, though, and Derby's league finish last season may impact the likelihood of their former youth product returning on loan.

"I think the other potential is that the other top runners for the Championship title would be in the mix too.

"But certainly you'd think that Derby, having that connection, knows the football club inside out, and it would definitely suit him."

Cashin spent his entire youth career at Pride Park before making his senior debut for the club in the 2021/22 campaign.

The Rams were relegated that season, but Cashin played in all but five League One games in the two seasons they were in the third tier, before playing 21 times this term ahead of his move to Brighton.

The 23-year-old even captained the club on occasion this season, too, and after helping his club bag £9 million for his services, you'd feel that Cashin's standing at Derby is positive, and would lend well for a potential loan destination in the coming months.

Eiran Cashin may suit a better Championship side than Derby County next season

Despite John Eustace transforming Blackburn Rovers from a club battling relegation to one sitting pretty in the top six in next to no time, the likelihood is that Brighton may want to send their 23-year-old prospect to a club in a better current position than Derby County.

Despite leaving in January, Cashin finished in the top 15% of Championship centre backs in tackles won, interceptions and accurate long balls, showing how complete a defender he was, and why Brighton parted with a decent sum of money to bring him to the Amex Stadium.

Therefore, you'd expect that Cashin would be able to perform well for a side challenging for the Championship title next season, and even that could help bridge the gap in quality ahead of a return to Brighton at the end of his loan spell.

Derby may hold the sentimental value in bringing Eiran Cashin in on loan, but in the end, a move to a side destined to finish inside the Championship top six may be the move Brighton choose to accept this summer.