A fee of £750k looks to have been agreed and it seems that Preston want Varney as an ideal replacement for the departing David Nugent who looks set to seal a big money move to Everton.
The possible downside of the sale of Varney would be that Crewe would have to give his old club Quorn 20% after they had a sell on fee agreed when Crewe signed the youngster back in 2003.
So the Midland Alliance club look set for a potential windfall that help them out for many years to come.
The 24-year-old striker signed for Crewe back in 2003 for a nominal fee on transfer deadline day, this after he had impressed Neil Baker. That season Varney had scored 25 goals in the Midland Alliance and Crewe snapped him up ahead of a few other clubs as boss Dario Gradi felt he could un-earth another non-league gem.
With Varney being raw talent the club set about working with the 20 year old at that time, so it was not until the start of the 2003-2004 season before Varney made his debut. Varney came on as a second half substitute against Wimbledon but it was not until December 2003 before he made his full match debut. This was away to Crystal Palace and he marked his debut by scoring in an impressive 3-1 win for the Railwaymen.
Varney went onto make 10 appearances before a shoulder injury and operation on the shoulder ended his season. After that Varney has gone on from strength to strength and in 2004-2005 season clocked up 17 appearances (9 as sub) scoring 4 goals in the process.
The season after Luke went onto make 15 appearances (12 as sub) and he bagged 5 more goals in the process.
So this season has proved more fruitful for Varney, he has formed a formidable partnership with youngster Nicky Maynard and so far bagged 10 goals in the league and also a memorable goal in the League Cup against Manchester United in front of the television cameras. For his reward for the hard work Luke has put in the offered him an improved contract which he signed contracting him to the club until 2009.
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Now it seems that Preston are prepared to end all speculation linking Varney with other clubs (Southampton, Portsmouth, Aston Villa and Derby County) by making him their ideal replacement for Nugent.