The January 2026 Transfer Window

[Tom]

I’ll be honest, before he was linked I’d never heard of the chap, obviously highly thought of elsewhere but not by Brum fans. Just can’t see him being  real difference maker for us but at least it’s another option.

Striker absolutely essential 

[RTM08]

Complete waste of the budget for me and tells me that we're committing to this garbage 5 at the back formation. CB was never the main priority and I would argue to position of least concern outside of the keepers.

Once Carter and Wharton are back any guaranteed playing time could keep 4 or 5 Rovers developed players out of the squad too. 

[Elrovers]

3 minutes ago, Tom said:

I’ll be honest, before he was linked I’d never heard of the chap, obviously highly thought of elsewhere but not by Brum fans. Just can’t see him being  real difference maker for us but at least it’s another option.

Striker absolutely essential 

I think it shores us up defensively. We can rest players too because he’ll 100% be playing this weekend. Also has the experience.

[Elrovers]

1 minute ago, RTM08 said:

Complete waste of the budget for me and tells me that we're committing to this garbage 5 at the back formation. CB was never the main priority and I would argue to position of least concern outside of the keepers.

Once Carter and Wharton are back any guaranteed playing time could keep 4 or 5 Rovers developed players out of the squad too. 

CB was always the main priority because these fools decided to sell dom hyam on deadline day. Also the injuries to Scott Wharton and Hayden carter were inevitable.

Edited yesterday at 20:22 by Elrovers

[rigger]

38 minutes ago, FE123 said:

6 ft 4 , won the Scottish cup and made premier league debut last season, not sure he’s a little boy.

The poster might have meant youngsters rather than little boys ?

[davulsukur]

If he keeps Pratt out of the team, I'll be annoyed.

We do need options to rotate the squad but unless he can play in the centre of the back 3, it's not really a priority position.

[KentExile]

9 minutes ago, davulsukur said:

If he keeps Pratt out of the team, I'll be annoyed.

We do need options to rotate the squad but unless he can play in the centre of the back 3, it's not really a priority position.

he is only 6ft I think, so cant see him being used in the middle of the 3

Edited yesterday at 20:31 by KentExile

[RTM08]

1 minute ago, Elrovers said:

CB was always the main priority because these fools decided to sell dom hyam on deadline day. Also the injuries to Scott Wharton and Hayden carter were inevitable.

I'm not saying CB hasn't been an issue, but Pratt and Atcheson stepped up for some cover and statistically the defence is much better than the offence.

Striker is by far the main priority followed by the wing back positions for me.

[rigger]

9 minutes ago, RTM08 said:

Complete waste of the budget for me and tells me that we're committing to this garbage 5 at the back formation. CB was never the main priority and I would argue to position of least concern outside of the keepers.

Once Carter and Wharton are back any guaranteed playing time could keep 4 or 5 Rovers developed players out of the squad too. 

Once Carter & Wharton are back, may be too late for the Rovers. We need the improvement now.

Edited yesterday at 20:30 by rigger

[DutchRover]

Brum fans clearly not fans of Cashin, but he was highly rated at Derby and Brighton don't usually pay 10m for duds, so hopefully just a poor fit for him.

That said, makes zero sense that our first signing is another left footed CB, and one on loan at that. It will stifle opportunities for Pratt who has looked good since coming in, as Brighton will have demanded he play

The not having to pay him wages will have been Suhail/Gestede's main reason for signing him I am sure.

[SuperBrfc]

Welcome to the biggest club in the Championship, Mr Cashin. A Premier League defender on paper. Brighton rarely sign duds, so he must have some talent. Let's give him a chance.

#BeUnique

[islander200]

A permanent right footed with a bit of experience centre back signing would have made sense but Pratt has done well and I liked the look of Atcheson on Sunday 

Cashin looks a pointless signing (im not calling him a shit player)but  we have a lot of other positions that need addressing 

[Ossydave]

Cashin seems a decent enough signing on paper, bit odd all the negative comments from brum fans considering his pretty limited game time. Only played 90 mins twice and one of those out of position at left back. Agree on comments centre half wasn't top priority but we definitely needed one in at some point in the window and no harm giving him a run out at weekend, should be relatively match fit.

[KentExile]

34 minutes ago, KentExile said:

true

But we are scraping the barrel, and this will stifle Pratt.  Brighton apparently more bothered about his playing time than his wage contribution, so will have specified that he starts (or Rovers will face a financial penalty etc)

Confirmed

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2026/january/06/game-time-key-for-me--says-cash/

[roversfan99]

We have badly needed a centre back ever since Hyam left. A loanee definitely doesnt replace him but I am far from convinced that a player of Cashin's profile is what we need in the short term either.

Signing a left footer really leaves us imbalanced, and the options we have gives me a feeling that we need to cobble something together rather than it being a well balanced group. Cashin isnt the tallest and would probably be best on the left, McLaughlin is average and definitely not dominant or good in the air so is probably best suited to being on the left, and Pratt is best suited to the left. Wharton is also best suited to being on the left but is injured. Towards the right, we have just O'Riordan who is untested, Miller who is not a natural centre back and is shall we say erratic. Its all very left sided, there is no one that you could say is great in the air, and no one at the level of Hyam or Batth.

Seems to be universally not rated by Birmingham fans. Hopefully in terms of quality he is more of the Derby Cashin although much of that was in League 1. But my concerns are more around the balance of our centre backs rather than his quality necessarily.

[London blue]

I'd be tempted to try Pratt in the middle. From what I've seen he's the one to get his head on things and keep it relatively simple.

Cashin, Pratt, O'Riordan/Miller feels quite well balanced.

[roversfan99]

Im not convinced its got the quality to be totally confident in.

[KentExile]

2 minutes ago, London blue said:

I'd be tempted to try Pratt in the middle. From what I've seen he's the one to get his head on things and keep it relatively simple.

Cashin, Pratt, O'Riordan/Miller feels quite well balanced.

The lack of an older head will mean they don't do that, It will be either Wharton  or McLoughlin in the middle

Edit - I am not saying McLoughlin is better than Pratt, just a prediction of what Ismael will do

Edited yesterday at 21:01 by KentExile

[London blue]

1 minute ago, KentExile said:

The lack of an older head will mean they don't do that, It will be either Wharton  or McLoughlin in the middle

Aye you're probably right. Wharton over soft arse McLoughlin all day long. 

[KentExile]

14 minutes ago, KentExile said:

true

But we are scraping the barrel, and this will stifle Pratt.  Brighton apparently more bothered about his playing time than his wage contribution, so will have specified that he starts (or Rovers will face a financial penalty etc)

 

14 minutes ago, KentExile said:

Confirmed

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2026/january/06/game-time-key-for-me--says-cash/

further confirmed

Brighton sporting director Jason Ayto told the club site: “Eiran has not had the opportunities we would have liked at Birmingham, and we feel this switch will give him the chance to play more regularly. 

Edited yesterday at 21:04 by KentExile

[ROVER_N_OUT1978]

Need strikers badly now and yes I mean strikers (plural).

 

not even a rumour other than the Barnsley lad which was always a non runner 

[OsloRover]

13 minutes ago, KentExile said:

The lack of an older head will mean they don't do that, It will be either Wharton  or McLoughlin in the middle

Edit - I am not saying McLoughlin is better than Pratt, just a prediction of what Ismael will do

Don't forget about Atcheton, looks like he's well suited for the middle

[Waggy76]

3 hours ago, Browjd said:

It's mental considering the players that have worn those shirts....

Makes me want to cry! 

[KentExile]

1 minute ago, OsloRover said:

Don't forget about Atcheton, looks like he's well suited for the middle

He will ultimately move inside when he is older, but that wont happen this season

[Kjell]

Let's hope Cashin is a fighter and can help us survive.

The best part of the RoversTV interview is when he is questioned about whether he spoke to any of his Brighton mates about moving to Rovers, and he answers that they all recommended the club and could not speak highly enough of it. 

Yesterday, Ayari - presumably one of the Brighton mates - opened up in an interview about how horrible the atmosphere was at Rovers during his loan spells.

Somebody is lying, and I think I know which one.