When the Italian media announced Jordan Veretout had dumped Saint-Etienne at the altar and would be off to Fiorentina instead, everything sounded so imminent.
Like the Aston Villa midfielder had been strolling to one departure gate at an airport and suddenly made his way to another, or taken an alternative exit on a European motorway.
Such was the way the change of mind was revealed, it would have been no surprise if Veretout had appeared in Florence that day, signing his contract before an evening stroll over the Ponte Vecchio.
Things have calmed down somewhat since, but Tuesday’s edition of L’Equipe says it will 
all fast forward today.
Veretout is set to go through his Fiorentina medical, and will then sign a contract with the Serie A club.
Aston Villa will get €7m from the sale, Veretout will get a very fortunate move, and everyone seems to have landed on their feet… apart from Saint-Etienne.
