Your right, on the face of it, it does seem unthinkable. But Southampton are treading water and the question is whether JWP wants to tread water for the rest of his career or make a move in the prime of his career? Go to Villa, possible play in Europe in the next two seasons...
Remember a certain Villa captain moving to Middlesbrough FFS, how does that happen, so not the long shot as some may think, if we are indeed interested?