Derby manager Paul Jewell says the Premier League strugglers are close to signing Egypt international Hossam Ghaly.

The Tottenham midfielder fell out of favour at White Hart Lane after throwing his shirt at former boss Martin Jol last season and was close to moving to Birmingham over the summer.

And any hopes he had of impressing new coach Juande Ramos and forcing his way back into first team contention have proved misguided - the 26-year-old has not featured for Spurs so far this season.

A move elsewhere now seems inevitable, with Derby the frontrunners to capture his signature.

Jewell told the BBC: "We've contacted Tottenham and spoken to the player and he's keen to come but we might have to go to a work permit appeal.

"And that might be 10 days or so before that happens."

Ghaly is thought to be desperate to quit the north London club, so much so that he is willing to miss this month's African Nations Cup in Ghana in a bid to finalise a deal with the Rams.

President of the Egyptian Football Association Samier Zaher told the BBC: "Ghaly told us that he will not be able to play in Ghana because he needs to secure his move to Derby.

"We understood his position, especially as it will be too late for him to find another club after the Nations Cup."

Jewell also confirmed his interest in Robbie Savage, saying the likes of the Blackburn midfielder, along with former Newcastle crowd-pleaser Laurent Robert - who is currently on trial at Pride Park - and new signing Emanuel Villa are all capable of helping the club to get out of trouble.

"These type of people will give all the players and supporters a lift," Jewell said.

"By the time we sort things out by the time I get the team I want here it will be unrecognisable to the one we've got now and I don't just mean in terms of personnel.

"I mean in the way they approach games and their approach to certain things I find difficult to comprehend.

"Hopefully by the end of the window we'll have five or six new faces in."

Mike Hytner / Eurosport