Inhomogeneous　structures　have　significant　impact　on　the　drag.　In　this　work,　direct　numerical　simulations　of　flows　past　fluidized　spheres　are　performed　to　investigate　the　effect　of　inhomogeneities　on　the　drag　at　low　Reynolds　numbers.　The　inhomogeneities　are　quantified　using　various　sub-grid　quantities　including　a　newly　defined　quantity　named　the　solid　drift　flux,　which　is　a　measure　of　the　correlation　between　the　gas　volume　fraction　and　the　particle　phase　velocity.　Following　the　methodology　of　Rubinstein　et　al.　(2017),　a　new　drag　model　that　depends　simultaneously　on　the　solid　drift　flux　and　the　scalar　variance　of　solid　volume　fraction　is　then　developed.　Given　that　these　two　sub-grid　quantities　are　readily　available　in　Eulerian-Lagrangian　(EL)　simulations,　the　developed　model　can　be　directly　used　in　EL　simulations　without　any　additional　closures　for　sub-grid　quantities.　An　a　priori　analysis　demonstrates　that　this　model　achieves　satisfactory　performance　in　predicting　the　drag　in　inhomogeneous　structures.　©　2021　Elsevier　B.V.