Matt Maher: Ross Barkley swoop signals a shift in policy for a pragmatic Aston Villa

The 26-year-old was always top of Smith’s wishlist when it came to strengthening midfield but the general mood was it would prove a difficult deal to pull off. Instead a move for his Chelsea and England team-mate, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, appeared far more likely.

That, at least, was the case up until Tuesday evening, when Frank Lampard indicated he would be willing to let Barkley leave Stamford Bridge for the rest of the season. Villa did not waste any time. Barkley, an unused substitute as Chelsea were knocked out of the Carabao Cup on penalties by Tottenham, travelled up to the Midlands that night with the deal announced, with almost zero forewarning, at 10.30 the next morning.

The Everton academy product became the fifth signing of the transfer window for Villa, whose spending had already topped the £75million mark.

More than any other deal so far, his arrival highlights another shift in recruitment policy and confirmation the lessons of last season, when the club avoided an immediate return to the Championship by the skin of their teeth, have been heeded.

After winning promotion back to the top flight last year, Villa’s tendency was to view the loan market with a distrust bordering on disdain.

Having watched Tammy Abraham plunder 26 goals in the Championship and then head back to Chelsea, chief executive Christian Purslow stated his reluctance to simply “improve other club’s players”.

Villa would only sign players on loan, he insisted, provided there was also an option to buy them permanently.

In theory, it was an admirable approach. In practice, it almost proved costly, as a lack of Premier League experience in Smith’s team was laid bare. Villa, in truth, looked to remedy the problem in January with the loan signings of Danny Drinkwater and Pepe Reina, to varying results.

Barkley’s signing is further proof of the new-found pragmatism.

The deal does not include an option to buy, with Chelsea unwilling to sell at this point.

Yet Villa believe adding his quality to their ranks will improve the team in the short-term and move them to a level where perhaps, come next summer, they will be in a position to strike a permanent deal for either Barkley or other players of such standard.

No signing comes with a guarantee of success and only time will show just how good Villa’s window has been. At the very least they appear to be giving themselves the best chance of climbing the table.