Sheffield United and West Ham United are reportedly among a host of clubs interested in signing Derby County's Eiran Cashin during the January transfer window.
The 22-year-old has been a standout performer in the East Midlands and has stuck with the Rams despite their relegation to League One in the 2021-22 campaign.
Cashin has featured 17 times in the third tier for Paul Warne's men this term - scoring on one occasion - with Derby currently sixth in the standings, six points behind second-placed Bolton Wanderers.
The centre-back also possesses relative international pedigree, having earned four caps for Republic of Ireland Under-21s, with the player qualifying for the nation through his grandmother.
According to TEAMtalk, there are a host of teams in the Premier League and the Championship that would be keen on recruiting Cashin during the January window.
The report claims that top-flight strugglers Sheffield United and David Moyes's West Ham are monitoring the defender's situation as the season approaches the New Year.
It is understood that Chris Wilder - who has replaced Paul Heckingbottom in the managerial hotseat at Bramall Lane - is a huge fan of Cashin and would like to bring him into the defensive ranks in Yorkshire.
Looking to implement a more possession-based style of play at St Andrew's, Birmingham City manager Wayne Rooney is also thought to be wanting to secure the services of the Irishman in the upcoming transfer window.
Brighton & Hove Albion are another side who are still interested in Cashin, with the Seagulls considering a move for the centre-back during the summer window.
With his current terms at Pride Park expiring at the conclusion of the 2023-24 term, Derby are hopeful that the 22-year-old will agree to a new contract, but if not, the East Midlanders realise that they will need to sell in January.
The report also adds that Vincent Kompany's Burnley and Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough are admirers of Cashin, meaning that Sheffield United face stiff competition in the race for the player.
Sheffield United have made a managerial change following a sobering 5-0 loss away at Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon, leaving Heckingbottom's side bottom of the top-flight standings with five points from 14 matches.
Having shipped 39 goals in the league so far, United possess the worst defensive record in the Premier League and have been blighted by serious injuries to experienced heads such as John Egan and Chris Basham.
Things do not get much easier in the top flight for the Blades as Jurgen Klopp's title-chasing Liverpool come to Bramall Lane on Wednesday night. body check tags ::
