Many will be glad that the lengthy 'negotiations' between Wigan and Villa will (hopefully) come to an end shortly. We will have obtained a target transfer, and a good one at that, but will it really be sufficient to counter the loss of Young and Downing?
This piece is more to stir discussion amongst Villa fans and, if they are reading, for the upper management at Villa to ask the same question.
We all know that money is tight, and I am all for getting the books to balance. We don't want Villa to become the next Leeds or Portsmouth. However, it has been reported that the loss of Young and Downing was apparent even against Walsall last week.
N'Zogbia will fill the gap of one of them, but what about the other? Albrighton has abundant talent, but it may be a little too much to ask him to fill such boots for a whole season straight away. Gabby is not a natural winger and we do not have Kyle Walker to cross over as a makeshift winger.
Darren Bent is undoubtedly the key to success this season, and getting supply to him in the box has to be a priority. N'Zogbia will be a great signing, but I am not so sure that it will be sufficient.
Some may disagree, and they are welcome to, but the talent that has walked out will not be fully replaced by what is coming in.
On a lighter note, it was nice to see Downing's Liverpool debut result in a thrashing by Hull.