Rams raid Blades for Davis

Derby have agreed a £3million deal with Sheffield United to sign centre-back Claude Davis, subject to the player passing a medical and receiving a work permit.

The Jamaican defender, 28, had only been at Bramall Lane for one season after joining the Blades from Preston.

Davis is now poised to join the Rams, and would become their third summer signing after Robert Earnshaw and Tyrone Mears.

A statement on Derby's official website read: "A £3million deal has been agreed with the strapping centre-half's club Sheffield United to make him the third signing of the closed season following on from Tyrone Mears and record capture Robert Earnshaw earlier this week.

"Subject to a medical and successful work permit application, the Jamaica international will sign a four-year contract with the Rams."

Davis joined Preston on loan in 2003 from Jamaican side Portmore United before making the move permanent a year later.

He established himself in the Lilywhites' team and was their player of the year in the 2005-06 season before joining newly-promoted Sheffield United.

He started only 18 league games for the Blades in a season which was affected by injury and though he returned to the side for the run-in, he was unable to prevent them being relegated back to the Coca-Cola Championship.