Tromso manager Jorgen Vik has confirmed that midfielder Jens Hjerto-Dahl will feature in the club's Europa League second qualifying round tie against FC Hradec Králové next Thursday, effectively halting Rangers' pursuit of the 20-year-old.
Rangers' Bid Rejected, Cardiff Enters Race
Rangers had been competing with Turkish side Besiktas for Hjerto-Dahl's signature, but a reported £5.3 million bid from the Glasgow club was rejected by Tromso. Cardiff City then entered the fray with a £5.5 million offer, and reports indicate the Welsh Championship side is prepared to increase their bid.
According to Record Sport, a move to Ibrox is on the verge of collapsing in favor of a switch to the English Championship, with Rangers now advancing a deal for Partizan Belgrade captain Vanja Dragojevic. However, the door remains open for Derek McInnes' side.
Vik's Stance on Hjerto-Dahl
Speaking ahead of Tromso's match against HamKam, Vik stated: "Despite a lot of speculation, we have retained the duo Tobias Guddal and Jens Hjertø-Dahl. The duo will probably be in action when TIL starts qualifying for the Europa League on Thursday."
If Hjerto-Dahl plays in the European fixture, he would be cup-tied for Rangers' Europa League qualification campaign. UEFA article 30.05 on player eligibility states: "A player may not play in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League or UEFA Conference League for more than one club in a single season." He would, however, be permitted to play in the league phase should he join Rangers and the club progress.
Hjerto-Dahl's Preference and Future
While Hjerto-Dahl has expressed a preference to join Rangers, he left the door open for a move to the English second tier last week. He told Nordlys: "The thoughts I have are that the Premier League is incredibly tough competition within the team and those you play against. The Championship is physical. You might get a little more opportunities to start games and come in, get more playing time. I want to play like everyone else, so we'll just have to see."
With the Europa League qualifier looming, Tromso's stance suggests Hjerto-Dahl's immediate future lies in Norway, potentially complicating any transfer before the deadline.
