Burnley boss Owen Coyle appears to be close to sealing his first signing of the summer after confirming that Derby County have accepted an offer for pacey defender Tyrone Mears.

The right-back position has been an area that the former St Johnstone boss desperately wants to bolster as he prepares for the club's first season back in the top-flight for 33 years. Having already been linked with moves for Everton defender Lars Jacobsen and Rhys Williams, who spent time on loan at Turf Moor from Middlesbrough last season, Coyle is now close to capturing 26-year-old Mears.

Speaking to the club's official website, Coyle said: "The two clubs have agreed a fee and talks with a view to making the transfer permanent will take place when the player and his representative return from holiday."

Having began his career with Manchester City, Mears has also enjoyed spells at Preston and West Ham prior to his move to Pride Park in July 2007 for £1million.

A fall-out with then Rams boss Paul Jewell at the start of last season saw the Stockport-born ace move to the South of France with Marseille on a season-long loan. Although he initially struggled to make much of an impact at the Stade Velodrome, Mears went on to score his side's winning goal in the UEFA Cup quarter-final match against Ajax in Amsterdam and would make seven appearances in all competitions for l'OM.