Varney Deal Close?

Following on from the disappointing news about Matt Gilks that emerged this afternoon, there was a silver lining amongst the clouds: The Gazette's Steve Canavan also revealed that the Seasiders are close to signing Luke Varney on a permanent basis.

Varney, who is on loan from Championship Derby County, has been a revelation for the Seasiders since joining and whilst his loan deal stipulates that the Seasiders can make his transfer a permanent one in the summer for £500,000 if they so wish, it is believed that 'Pool will instead look to make him a full time Premier League player during the January transfer window.

That's because his loan deal also stipulates that Derby can consider offers from other clubs during said transfer window, and 'Pool gaffer Ian Holloway does not want to run the risk of missing out on the player.

Strangely though, Canavan claimed that Varney will join 'Pool for just £250,000; half of what is believed to be the agreed transfer fee written into the loan deal.

Then again, Varney is on big wages at Pride Park and may well have to take a wage cut to join the 'Pool permanently (something that he seems prepared to do), so perhaps it's a case of Derby wanting to get his wages off their wage bill asap, allowing Nigel Clough to strengthen his side for a push at the playoffs.

In another twist, Ian Holloway has revealed that, as suspected, Varney was not a target for him at the start of the summer but became one after a conversation with Crewe manager Dario Gradi.

Gradi advised Ollie that having seen the way that the Seasiders play, Varney would fit perfectly into the system despite not getting a look in at Derby.

Ollie then went to watch him in action, realised that Dario was right and the rest as they is history!

Fingers crossed Ollie's contacts have got some more gems up their sleeves for January!

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.