We have a season to see how Cleverly performs at Villa. I expect that the deal cobbled together by Utd and Villa at the last moment happened after Utd realised that Everton were not bluffing when they said they would not meet Utds demands. I think Utd were afraid of being made look stupid by Everton again and felt that Everton would cave in and pay the price.Everton see Cleverly as a long term player I am sure but in the area he plays we do already have quite a few bodies.
Utd were now stuck with an expensive player that wouldn't get a game, Cleverly was stuck in the reserves and Villa had no signing made. This deal got Cleverly out of Utd, games for Cleverly and a signing for Villa.
At the end of the season Cleverly can go where he wishes and that may very well be Villa if they do well and he settles. It does however give RM the opportunity of watching his form every week and trying to do a deal next summer at the latest.
I think that after this season Osman and Pienaar will play less and less in the first team as they get another year older.