Rangers have launched an aggressive summer transfer swoop for Norwegian midfielder Jens Hjerto-Dahl, but their opening multi-million-pound play has been resolutely knocked back.
According to breaking reports from Norwegian regional daily iTromso, the Eliteserien outfit have formally rejected a substantial official proposal from Rangers for their prized midfield anchor.
The Ibrox side tested the waters with a package worth 70million Norwegian Kroner, which converts directly to a hefty £5.3million fee under current market rates.
However, any hopes of engineering a swift, bargain-tier agreement have been completely dashed by the board at the Romssa Arena.
Tromso have issued a definitive ‘no’ to the opening package, signalling they hold all the cards regarding their academy graduate.
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Rangers test waters with £5.3m offer
Rangers‘ decision to submit a £5.3m baseline proposal marks an absolute statement of intent from the recruitment team.
It shows the Ibrox board are fully prepared to back the manager, Derek McInnes, with heavy investment for premium talent rather than recycling low-cost alternatives.
The 20-year-old Norwegian youth international fits the elite recruitment mould perfectly.
Standing at a massive 1.94m (6ft 4in), Hjerto-Dahl is a towering, robust, defensive-minded midfielder who pairs brutal physical dominance with exceptional technical distribution.
Crucially, he has added a devastating offensive weapon to his arsenal this term, scoring five goals from deep in the engine room.
Rangers’ interest in Hjerto-Dahl is not new, as the Glasgwegian giants were linked with a move for the youngster earlier this year.
As recently as April, Tromso were said to be holding out for a sum of around £10m, meaning the Gers will have to increase their offer significantly if they are determined to acquire his services.
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McInnes midfield priority comes to light
Rangers have strengthened their options in midfield with the signing of Dan Neil on a free transfer from Sunderland.
However, it is evident that McInnes is keen to further bolster his options, with the Premiership heavyweights heavily linked with a move for FK Partizan captain Vanja Dragojevic in recent days.
Partizan even pulled the 20-year-old from their squad for a friendly on Monday to protect a potential transfer to Ibrox, despite rejecting an initial £3.8m offer.
However, with the Light Blues also placing a bid for Hjerto-Dahl, it is evident that the Andrew Cavenagh-led club are pursuing multiple avenues.
