Rams target new signings

The Rams have been linked with two players today, with reports that Billy Davies is set to complete a £2million deal for Southampton midfielder Jhon Viafara, and he is interested in bringing Jon Stead back to Pride Park, the 24-year-old spent a loan spell with the Rams last season.

It`s been reported in the press that Davies has finally got his man, and agreed a fee with the Saints for Colombian international Viafara and expects to seal the deal later today.

Viafara has been a regular in the Colombia national football team, and this earned him a £800,000 move to English club Portsmouth F.C in 2005. But in the January 2006 transfer window he made a loan move to Spanish Primera División club Real Sociedad. But after returning to Fratton Park after the end of his spell, hesigned for Pompey neighbours Southampton, and he signed a three year deal in August 2006.

The transfer fee was undisclosed but is believed to be in the region of £750,000. He has appeared consistently for the Saints in the 2006-07season. His finest moment was scoring two goals in the Championship Playoff Semi Final Second Leg against the Rams, unfortunately for him it wasn't enough as Derby went on to win the tie in a penalty shootout.

It`s also been reported on BBC Radio Sheffield that the Rams are keen to take Stead back to the East Midlands from the Blades, who were relegated from the Premier League last season, and it`s understood that new Blades coach Bryan Robson is looking to off-load Stead, after signing James Beattie from Everton.

The striker has scored seven goals in 16 appearances for the Yorkshire club. Stead started his career at his home-town club Huddersfield in 2002 but was sold to Blackburn for £1.25m in February 2004. At the end of the following season, in July 2005, he was sold to Sunderland for £1.8m but scored only two goals in 22 league starts, with a further 13 substitute appearances.

The Blades paid £750,000 for the forward, who scored twice in the 3-1 Carling Cup win over Chesterfield on 14 August.

Join the Vital Fantasy Football League - its Free!