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Derby County are plotting a late move to bring former defender Eiran Cashin back to the club from Brighton and Hove Albion

Derby County are looking to bolster their defensive options on deadline day by plotting a late swoop for Brighton and Hove Albion centre-back Eiran Cashin, in what would be an emotional return to Pride Park.

According to Alan Nixon's Patreon, Derby are preparing a late loan move for Brighton defender Cashin, with head coach John Eustace keen to bring the former Ram back to Pride Park for the year.

Cashin enjoyed an excellent loan spell in the second half of last campaign with Blackburn Rovers, but doesn't appear to be a part of plans at the Amex, as Derby move into pole position for his signature this deadline day.

Derby County prepare late loan bid for former defender Eiran Cashin

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Indeed, Derby are plotting a late loan move for former defender Cashin, who appears to be out of favour at Brighton.

The Irishman came through the ranks at Derby, and made 144 appearances across all competitions for the club before joining the Seagulls in January 2025 for around £9 million.

He has found minutes difficult on the South Coast, making just two appearances for the club across all competitions in the following 18 months, and spent last year out on loan with Birmingham City and then Blackburn, shining with the latter.

Now, with the likes of Lewis Dunk, Luka Vušković, Michael Svoboda, Olivier Boscagli, Pascal Struijk, and Jaouen Hadjam ahead of him in the pecking order at the Amex, an exit seems certain, as Derby have offered him an escape route at the 11th hour.

Why Derby County are looking to re-sign Eiran Cashin

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It's been a difficult summer for Derby in more ways than one, though head coach John Eustace looks to end the window on a high with the addition of Cashin.

The proposed takeover from Saudi government official Turki Alalshikh unexpectedly fell through in early August, scuppering the club's transfer plans, whilst they have since missed out on deals for both Ben Brereton Diaz and Hamza Choudhury to Sheffield United.

Matt Clarke is expected to miss up to three months with a calf injury, whilst Derry Murkin is also expected to be out of action for the foreseeable future, leaving Derby short in that left-sided defensive slot.

Cashin is capable of operating anywhere on the left side of defence, and his addition makes a huge amount of sense, as Eustace will be praying this deal doesn't have any hiccups.

John Eustace will be hoping for a strong end to the window for Derby County amid loan plot for Eiran Cashin

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Whilst this window hasn't worked out exactly as Derby would have hoped for, there are still positives to take from it.

Bobby Clark and Sammie Szmodics have returned to the club permanently after successful loan spells, Ryan Hedges, Filip Bilbija, and Charlie Taylor have all joined on free transfers, whilst Alex Mowatt and Henrik Meister have also arrived at Pride Park.

After a difficult window and a difficult beginning to the Championship season, Eustace will be hoping to turn things around sooner rather than later, as Cashin's addition will for sure help with that.