Aston Villa have today agreed a fee, reportedly of £12 million, for Boro’s Stewart Downing.

There’s no doubting Downing’s quality. In previous seasons he had emerged as a true contender for our fantasy line-ups and even an England prospect (discuss). This was underlined by a return of 9 goals and 6 assists (22 FPL bonus) in the 2007/08 season with Boro. However, last term’s output of zero goals and just 4 assists in 36 starts, no doubt contributing to Boro’s Premier League downfall, will do little to tempt fantasy managers this time around. Will a move to Villa improve his fantasy prospects and make us think again?

That’s just one of numerous questions that we will have to mull over if this move is completed. Presumably Ashley Young will shift to the right side toaccommodate Downing on the left. Does that leave Milner, of which so much is expected this season, squeezed out again? Or perhaps Ashley Young himself will now be subject to a big money bid? If we have service from Young on one side and Downing on the other, will Carew benefit enough to raise his appeal? Where does this leave Heskey?

These are all worthy queries but amongst all this fuzz and noise we should remember one thing – Downing is nursing a broken foot and is out until October or maybe even November. Ironically, that’s thanks to a challenge by potential new team-mate Stiliyan Petrov dished out at the end of last season. Handily, that gives us plenty of time to ponder the posers that this latest summer move serves up.