We don't know how good he is yet. Hughton will see him in training, and if he thinks at some point he is good enough for a starting place, that's fine by me. Whoever he replaces, it will be because Hughton reckons Harper is better; sounds fair enough to me.
...... was being chased by Manchester City and Liverpool.
And what does it matter if he hasn't played for the Real Madrid first XI? The only difference it would make is that he wouldn't be coming here if he had. I'm not for one second saying he is the new Messiah (or even just the new Messi)...