Rams seek to tighten defence with Premiership quality

Last updated : 25 January 2007 By Rams Mad Editor

Tyrone Mears
Tyrone Mears possible target for the Rams
With less than a week to go before the close of the transfer window, the Rams are again seeking to strengthen their squad and hold on the top of the Championship table.

Latest news from Pride Park suggests that West Ham's Tyrone Mears and Blackburn's James McEveley are the next players to be asked to join Derby County. Both players are defenders are at present struggling to gain a permanent place at their respective clubs.

Tyrone has been with West Ham for just 6 months after joining them from Preston for £1million. Billy Davies knows all about Mears after his time at Deepdale and is surprised to see him apparently surplus to requirements after just four starts for the Hammers in total and just 3 in the Premier League.

James McEveley
James McEveley, Rover possibly making a home with the Rams
James McEveley is a 22 year old defender and currently at Blackburn Rovers. He is very much out of favour with manager Mark Hughes, and has been out on loan for most of his career with Burnley, Gillingham and a season long spell with Ipswich last season. He has however featured three times for Blackburn this season with two games in the Premiership and one in the FA Cup to his name.

Both Blackburn and West Ham have signed new defenders this week which may signal the departure of at least one of these players to the Rams before next Wednesday's deadline for transfers this season.