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It's not the first time we've tried to sign him. Back in January 2007 we were close to a loan deal for him but that was scuppered at the last minute when his former Preston boss Little Billy Davies stepped in to take him to Derby.
The 26-year-old Mears started his career with Manchester City but it was at Preston where he first got his chance after becoming one of Craig Brown's first signings when he made the move to Deepdale in a £200,000 transfer.
He was with North End for four years before a move to West Ham. Things didn't work out for him there and just half a season in to that deal he moved to Derby, initially on loan, before making the move permanent following their promotion in the summer of 2007.
Last summer he decided to go to Marseille without the permission of Derby or his manager Paul Jewell. That led to him being fined heavily by his club with Jewell saying he would never play for the club again. The clubs finally agreed for him to go there on loan last season.
He didn't feature too often and they didn't take up the option to sign him, although he did make his international debut for Jamaica during last season. Mears returned to Derby but now has the chance to join the Clarets in the Premier League.