Rams Ready to Wrap Up Villa Signing

Paul Jewell today revealed he has "almost completed" a deal to sign the Argentinian striker Emanuel Villa from Mexican side UAG Tecos. The 25-year-old Villa, who is the club's top scorer with 10 goals from 28 appearances this season, added that he will fly in to finalize the deal on Wednesday.

"This is a deal we have almost completed," revealed Jewell. "The player will be flying in later this week for a medical and barring any hitches he will sign for us."

Villa, who has previously played for Atletico Huracan, Rosario Central and Atlas, admitted that a move to England was too good an opportunity to turn down. "It's a dream come true," he said. "I wanted to play in Europe and now I have the opportunity and there is nowhere better than the Premier League.

"My experience in Mexican football has been positive and I hope I can go on progressing, as I now have an important challenge ahead of me. I know I'm arriving at a team with relegation problems. I must get used to their league immediately because there is no time for mistakes. Everything is almost sorted out. I understand we only have to fly there," added Villa. "We are going to England on Wednesday."

Jewell added that Derby are also "99% certain" to clinch the signing of an unspecified top-flight player later this month. His chairman, Adam Pearson, also revealed that the club are scouring the globe for reinforcements. "Primarily we are looking abroad," said Pearson. "We are the only Premier League club without a European player in the team, which is quite an incredible situation to find ourselves in."