Comment: Caution commendable - yet the clock is already ticking on Aston Villa's summer rebuild

There are already fewer than 10 weeks until the transfer window closes, leaving very little time for Purslow, Dean Smith and sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch to reshape the playing squad for a top-flight return.

Despite the euphoria of promotion and the momentum built thanks to the manner in which it was won, the cold hard reality is that Villa have plenty of work to do.

Of the XI which started Monday’s play-off final win over Derby, four were loanees and it is unlikely all can be retained.

Villa have the option to sign Anwar El Ghazi on a permanent deal, a clause which will surely now be triggered for a 24-year-old player Smith believes can be further improved.

Chances of striking a permanent deal for Tyrone Mings, one of the stars of their promotion charge, are also understood to be high – though the deal remains some way from done and will require some negotiation, with Bournemouth under no huge pressure to sell.

The likelihood of either Axel Tuanzebe or Tammy Abraham being in Villa shirts at the start of next season is rather more remote.

Tuanzebe will get his chance to impress Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during pre-season, while Abraham has always made clear his desire to fight for a first-team place at Chelsea.

The latter top scored with 26 goals this season. Should he not return, Villa will likely be in the market for two strikers, with question marks over Jonathan Kodjia’s ability to make the step up. Dwight Gayle and Neal Maupay are both under consideration.

Staying in attack, Nottingham Forest’s Joe Lolley will be targeted to solve issues on the right flank, where neither Andre Green or Albert Adomah – the latter of whom is out of contract and set to be released – particularly impressed.

Not having Tuanzebe would, of course, leave a space to fill in the heart of defence alongside Mings.

James Chester has a year remaining on his contract, but has questions over his durability to answer after missing the second half of the season with a knee injury.

Kortney Hause, another likely to join on a permanent deal, is a possible answer at centre-back but might also be utilised at left-back, another position which will require reinforcement.

Villa also face something of a goalkeeping quandary. Both Orjan Nyland and Lovre Kalinic were signed in the past 12 months, the latter in a big money move, yet neither particularly impressed.

Instead Jed Steer, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Charlton, was the hero of the promotion charge.

Whether the 26-year-old can now be a regular Premier League No.1, or whether Kalinic’s poor start was simply down to adapting to the English game, are questions Smith and his coaching staff will now consider.

The area of the pitch where Villa appear best equipped is midfield, with Jack Grealish and John McGinn both possessing the potential to thrive at the higher level.

Conor Hourihane, excellent at Wembley, will likely be kept aboard, though that still leaves one or two places to fill, particularly if Glenn Whelan is not offered a new deal.

The Republic of Ireland international is one of several players whose futures will be decided in the coming days.

In addition to those with contracts set to expire, both Birkir Bjarnason and Scott Hogan are among a group Villa will look to move on before August 8.

A little patience and careful consideration is advisable. Fulham, who will be back in the Championship next season, provided a blueprint for how not to spend the promotion windfall. There is no escaping, however, the fact Villa have much to do and not a huge amount of time to do it in.