Indeed, it's common practice nowadays.
Bournemouth have been doing it for ages now. "Oh, he REALLY wanted to stay, but then his agent had a word in his ear".
http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?29072-Saints-sign-Dale-Stephens-on-loan-official
I know yours came first, but I can't be bothered to edit the title of yours
Was it against Huddersfield he scored that absolute belter from the edge of the box? Can't quite remember now - but anyway, you shouldn't take a 37 goal season and expect the same each year.
OS is wrong
In fairness, youth players switch all over the place. Lallana and Chamberlain were both CMs in the youth team, Walcott and Dyer both strikers, hell Kenwyne Jones started out at right back.
What would you say Alps if we "settled" for the play-offs, rested Lallana and Chamberlain for every game this season, and ended up in second place anyway?