Cardiff City have launched a huge bid reportedly worth more than £7.8million for Norwegian midfield star Jens Hjertø-Dahl as they attempt to pull off a landmark deal.
The Bluebirds are understood to have submitted a second proposal of the summer, with Norwegian outlet iTromso stating the offer tabled is worth more than 100m Norwegian kroner when bonuses are included, with around 80m NOK - approximately £6.2m - understood to be guaranteed.
Tromsø have not yet accepted the offer, which was submitted this week, but the two clubs are now said to be in negotiations over a deal which would comfortably smash the Norwegian club’s transfer record.
Record-Breaking Deal
Their current record sale came only last month, when Abubacarr Sedi Kinteh joined Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli for around 70m NOK (£5.5m).
Hjertø-Dahl has emerged as one of Brian Barry-Murphy’s leading transfer targets following Cardiff’s promotion back to the Championship, with the club determined to add another high-quality midfielder before the new season after the departure of Ryan Wintle.
WalesOnline revealed on Tuesday that talks were progressing and that Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan had taken a close personal interest in negotiations.
Growing Optimism
There has been growing optimism behind the scenes that Cardiff are in a strong position to land one of Norway’s brightest young talents, although the size of the latest proposal underlines Tan's commitment and the financial muscle required to make the move happen.
Cardiff had already seen a lower bid rejected earlier in July, but have now returned with a significantly improved package which moves them close to Tromsø’s asking price.
iTromsø reports that the offer is large enough to make a record-breaking deal increasingly realistic, although much could still depend on the wishes of the player himself.
Rangers Interest
Rangers have previously submitted an offer which was turned down and remain one of three or four clubs closely monitoring developments, according to iTromsø.
However, the Scottish side’s pursuit has appeared to cool in recent days as they progress with moves for alternative midfield targets, potentially leaving Cardiff with a clear opportunity to complete the deal.
Hjertø-Dahl has previously admitted Rangers hold greater appeal to him than Turkish giants Besiktas, but Cardiff believe the chance to play in the Championship and become a central figure in Barry-Murphy’s project could prove equally attractive.
Player Profile
Besiktas had an offer worth just under 100m NOK accepted during the winter transfer window, only for the midfielder to reject the move and remain with his boyhood club.
He has since enhanced his reputation further, developing into one of the most exciting and productive players in Norwegian football.
Hjertø-Dahl is Tromsø’s leading scorer this season, having registered seven goals and two assists, and has found the net in each of his last two league appearances.
He scored during the 4-0 win over Vålerenga before producing a spectacular long-range effort in the 4-1 victory over HamKam, moving him level at the top of the Eliteserien scoring charts.
Despite his age, the Norway under-21 international has already made more than 100 senior appearances for Tromsø and is contracted to the club until the end of 2029.
Comfortable operating as a holding midfielder but equally capable of breaking forward and contributing goals, his combination of physicality, technical quality and athleticism has attracted attention across Europe.
Europa League Factor
Tromsø are preparing to face Czech side Hradec Králové in Europa League qualifying on Thursday and Hjertø-Dahl has made clear that representing his hometown club in Europe would carry huge significance.
Should he play in that match, he would not be able to represent another club during the qualifying rounds of the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League.
The scale of the Bluebirds’ latest bid represents a remarkable show of ambition following their return to the Championship.
Owner Involvement
Tan is understood to have maintained regular dialogue with senior figures at Cardiff throughout the summer and has been supportive of Barry-Murphy’s plans to strengthen the squad.
The relationship between the pair grew closer after the Cardiff boss visited the Malaysian businessman during the summer, with Tan remaining fully engaged in the club’s recruitment operation.
Cardiff still want reinforcements at left-back, central midfield, on the wing and in attack, but securing Hjertø-Dahl would represent a major coup and immediately extinguish suggestions that the club’s owner has lost interest.
Negotiations Continue
No agreement has yet been completed and other clubs remain in the background, but Cardiff’s latest offer has taken negotiations to a new level.
The Bluebirds have now placed a potentially record-breaking package on the table and will hope Hjertø-Dahl can be persuaded that south Wales is the ideal next step in his rapidly developing career.
