Derby Agree £3m Deal for Sheffield United Centre-back Claude Davis

Derby have agreed a £3m deal to sign the Sheffield United centre-back Claude Davis as they look to strengthen their defence ahead of their first season back in the Premiership. The move is subject to Davis completing a medical and securing a work permit, but a four-year contract has been pre-emptively agreed.

Davis, who had only been at Bramall Lane for one season after joining from Preston, will be Derby's third summer signing after Robert Earnshaw and Tyrone Mears. Beset with injuries, he started just 18 league games last season and was unable to prevent the Blades being relegated back to the Championship.

A statement on the Rams' official website read: "A £3m deal has been agreed with the strapping center-half's club Sheffield United. Subject to a medical and successful work permit application, the Jamaica international will sign a four-year contract with the Rams."

Fellow Premiership new boys Birmingham, meanwhile, are poised to make Lille central defender Rafael Schmitz their seventh signing of the summer after negotiating a season-long loan. Brazilian Schmitz is to undergo a two-part medical after agreeing to the switch.

"We saw Lille play in the league against Paris St Germain and Auxerre," said the Birmingham manager Steve Bruce. "Rafael impressed both times - and in the Champions League as well."

Birmingham have already secured the services of Fabrice Muamba, Stuart Parnaby, Olivier Kapo, Garry O'Connor, Daniel de Ridder and Richard Kingson - the latter subject to obtaining a work permit - this summer.