"Desperately need": Derby County transfer situation investigated amid Eiran Cashin issue

Derby County is in a dreadful run of form on the pitch, and they are in risk of relegation to League One after being promoted last season.

The Rams have lost their previous six Championship games and are in last position in the relegation zone, just ahead of Luton Town and Plymouth Argyle.

Paul Warne’s battle for life has taken a turn for the worse in the last month, and what once appeared to be a promising campaign has devolved into a disaster that the 51-year-old must lead his side through.

Derby have only won four of their previous 25 league games, and extra reinforcements are required with Eiran Cashin’s future unknown. The East Midlands club’s January transfer window is make-or-break, and with only a week before the deadline, action must be taken quickly.

Verdict made on Derby’s January transfer window

So far, Lars-Jorgen Salvesen is the only new face at Pride Park, and he has made an immediate impact in black and white, netting his first goal for the club against Cardiff City in the Rams’ 2-1 loss in Cardiff on Saturday.

Ben Radcliffe, James Collins, and Sonny Bradley have all transferred to League One, making room in the roster for new players.

Football League World exclusively revealed on Friday that the Rams are leading the way for Middlesbrough’s Matt Clarke, and with Cashin still being hunted down by Brighton & Hove Albion, his introduction is much-needed.

FLW has asked their Derby Fan Pundit, Shaun Woodward, if he is pleased with his club’s transfer business so far, or if work is still needed.

“So far, I wouldn’t say it’s been the best,” he started. “We’ve only brought in the one player in Lars-Jorgen Salvesen. I mean, he has looked very good and scored on his first start, so he should be confident, and it’s someone we’ve desperately needed – a focal point up front.

“But we need other players to come in and support him, because on his own he isn’t going to be able to keep us up. We desperately need other attacking midfielders or wide players or even another centre-forward to come alongside him.”

Shaun continued: “It’s going to be interesting. In the final week, we desperately needed to bring in two or three players. Ideally, one or two forwards, wingers and a centre-back, but I’m confident we’ll do that.

“Time is running out, and I think a lot of it will depend on the Cashin transfer, and whether that will free up some money. But so far, it’s not been the best, but I’m still confident that we can get a few deals done.”

The sale of Cashin could be the correct decision to make in the long-run

While supporters will want to see Cashin grow and develop even further at Derby, improving the core of the squad is incredibly important and therefore, the centre-back may have to be let go.

Brighton have been long-term admirers of the 23-year-old, and despite the Rams’ position last week of not selling at any price this month, a move away now looks likely to happen after he applauded the travelling supporters on his own for five minutes on Saturday in what looked to be a final goodbye.

Cashin has been excellent since making his debut in December 2021 for Derby, and he does deserve a move to the Premier League, but losing him will be tough for supporters, Warne and the rest of the team.

However, for the future, it is a decision that perhaps needs to be made, and he will depart with plenty of support from all those associated with the Rams.