I don't think it's a meltdown tbh, my first reaction was to laugh my tits off. If he's 3rd choice then fine, although it amuses me that this is yet another example of signing a player at loggerheads with their club in order to get them on the cheap. If he's 2nd choice then IMO it's a big concern, probably a big downgrade and definitely another big risk.
If he's better than Harper (and he's obviosly younger) then I don't realy see the problem.
I am sick of our apparent unwillingness to wrap up any 'full price' deals like.