Eiran Cashin's estimated Derby County wage and where he would rank in Brighton's top earners | OneFootball

The centre-back has been targeted by the Seagulls once again, but the Rams are remaining firm in their desire to keep hold of him.

Eiran Cashin is perhaps Paul Warne's most important player at Derby County at the moment, and this importance will only grow in the remaining months of the season as his side look to retain their Championship status.

Injuries have plagued the Rams' season, and nearly every department at Pride Park has been impacted since the 2024/25 campaign began.

Curtis Nelson's knee injury means that he will not play a part for another nine months, and Nat Phillips has also had his own fitness issues this month. Therefore, Brighton & Hove Albion's bid for Cashin on Monday evening came at one of the worst possible times for Warne and the club.

Derby rejected the bid, with The Telegraph's John Percy revealing that the defender is not available for transfer this month at all.

Nevertheless, with the Seagulls' history of interest in the 23-year-old, it would not be a surprise to see them come back in the summer for him, and Football League World has taken a look at Cashin's estimated weekly wage and where it ranks compared to the Premier League side's top earners.

Cashin is one of the Rams' highest estimated earners

The centre-back came through the ranks at the East Midlands outfit as a youngster, and made his debut under the tenure of Wayne Rooney in December 2021 against Blackpool.

He soon became a starter for the Rams, and is now one of the first names on the teamsheet in the Championship. He was targeted by Brighton in August 2023, and despite a £4m offer being broadly accepted, time ran out before the details of the deal could be completed.

He was excellent alongside Nelson in League One last season as Derby were promoted, and he was given a new contract in February 2024, securing his future at Pride Park until the summer of 2027.

It was a moment that eased any fears that supporters had, and allowed him to focus on his football and help the Rams in their fight to return to the second tier.

According to Capology, this contract is worth £8,500-a-week, although it must be stated that this is only an estimate.

This means that Cashin is the third-highest earner at Derby, alongside goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom. Ben Osborn is estimated to be paid £17,500-a-week, while Kayden Jackson is second in this particular table on £12,000.

Cashin's wage is much lower than the top earners at Brighton

While he is one of the Rams' best paid players, those at the top of the list at Brighton earn considerably more, as per Capology's estimates.

Ferdi Kadioglu takes home £87,500-a-week, with Kaoru Mitoma and Lewis Dunk both earning £80,000 every week.

The financial leap to the Premier League has grown considerably over the course of the last decade, and clubs like Brighton, who have had mixed success in the division over the years, are able to offer a huge amount of money to their players now.

Cashin's wage would improve greatly if he joined the Seagulls, but his game time would be severely limited, and staying at Derby is the correct decision for his career at this moment in time.

The 23-year-old is a Premier League player in waiting, but he still needs more time to develop, and he will be able to do so at Pride Park better than on the south coast.