Sheffield United must push for summer loan deal for defender who Wayne Rooney thinks is ‘outstanding’

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Sheffield United are going through a strange period after losing the Championship play-off final, and there looks to be huge changes ahead at Bramall Lane.

Chris Wilder is in talks about his Blades future after his side were beaten 2-1 by Sunderland at Wembley last month, with Tommy Watson securing the Black Cats’ promotion in the 95th minute of the clash.

Automatic promotion is the goal for the South Yorkshire outfit in 2025/26, but there will be questions as to whether they have enough quality in key areas, with Gustavo Hamer potentially on his way out of Sheffield United.

Signing a new striker is also crucial to the Blades’ success, but they must also strengthen defensively and that left centre-back role needs to be improved upon and Brighton may just hold the key for them.

• READ MORE – All Sheffield United incomings and outgoings this summer, plus the latest transfer rumours

Sheffield United must sign Eiran Cashin this summer

It has not exactly gone to plan for Eiran Cashin with the Seagulls so far since becoming one of Derby County’s record sales when he switched the East Midlands for Sussex in January.

As per BBC Sport, the Premier League side spent £9m on the centre-back, but his involvement has been very limited so far and he has found himself further down the pecking order.

A loan move this summer would be the perfect way for the defender to get back to his very best after a strong first half of the season with Derby.

The 23-year-old needs to be playing every week if Brighton are to get the development that they need from him, and with Sheffield United likely to be towards the top of the Championship, a move to Bramall Lane just makes sense.

• READ MORE – Sheffield United have been told they have signed a ‘brilliant prospect’, but received one warning

Eiran Cashin has Wayne Rooney’s seal of approval

Cashin made 144 appearances for Derby before departing at the start of 2025, and since then, he has played just twice more. Wayne Rooney was the man to give the Republic of Ireland international hopeful his debut back in 2021, and a few weeks later he explained how he felt about the young centre-back.

Rooney said (via: Derbyshire Live): “I told him to enjoy it [his debut]. I had trust in Cash coming in, and he was outstanding. I have seen an improvement in him this season.

“It is hard to gauge from U23s football but there are details you look at. I then bring the players up for a few weeks to train with us and see how they settle in with that, and the lads have been outstanding. The message? I have not put any pressure on them [the young players]. They are good players. They wouldn’t be playing if I didn’t think they can.”

Sheffield United are keen on Kyle Walker, but it is in the heart of the defence where they will need the most cover, and Cashin has the quality needed to provide that solidity at the back.