Rangers continue to keep tabs on Tromso midfielder Jens Hjerto-Dahl, and the Norwegian sensation insists it was he who decided against making a move during the January transfer window.
While Sturm Graz accepted a £4 million bid for Tochi Chukwuani, the Scottish Premiership giants would not secure the services of another talented young midfielder making waves outside of Europe’s so-called ‘big five’ leagues.
Rangers Review believe that Jens Hjerto-Dahl was a player initially identified as a potential addition to Danny Rohl’s engine room. But, when they spent a hefty sum on Chukwuani, it was decided that Rangers should devote the rest of their budget to strengthening other areas of the squad.
Now, speaking to TV2 in his native Norway, Dahl opens up on the first period of sustained speculation he has faced in his young career.
Reported Rangers target Jens Hjerto-Dahl in no rush to leave Tromso
The Norway Under-21 international was heavily linked with Besiktas too; constant messages from the Turkish giants’ famously-feverish fanbase threatening to force an unwanted trip to the Apple Store. Dahl indicates that, even if Rangers had decided to step up their interest, he would have stayed at a Tromso side hoping to build on 2025’s third-place finish.
“A stressful period. You’re walking around thinking about [your future] all the time,” Dahl says.
“A completely new situation for me. There was a lot of stuff going on. Not a fuss, but a bit of noise, in a way.
“We had a very good period [in training for the new Eliteserien campaign], where I felt that this was great to be a part of.”
Cameron Ashia and David Watson on summer radar
Rohl claims that Rangers are ‘still open’ to another midfield acquisition later down the line. However, the Review believes that Dahl, who happily laps up comparisons with Fulham’s towering deep-lying playmaker Sander Berge, is unlikely to be a ‘frontrunner’ heading into the summer.
Kilmarnock’s David Watson is a Rangers target for the summer, per TEAMtalk. Huddersfield Town youngster Cameron Ashia has been linked as well.
Per the Daily Record, Tromso value Dahl at around £8 million.
Rangers have a lot of money to throw around these days thanks to investment provided by the San Francisco 49ers, though that does not mean the Ibrox outfit have the benefit of unlimited funds.
In the meantime, Rohl confirms that the Gers will be without midfielder Mohamed Diomande for the trip to St Mirren on Sunday. Connor Barron is facing a race against time himself.
“Dio will not be available,” the German said during his press conference. “He got a small shoulder injury. All the other players are so far, so good.
“I’ve had to make some decisions with the squad, but Dio is the only one who is not available, 100 per cent.”
