Tromso IL sporting director Lars Petter Andressen has issued a defiant hands-off warning to Rangers, stating that the Scottish giants are currently “nowhere near” meeting the valuation required to land Jens Hjerto-Dahl.
Norwegian regional daily iTromso confirmed on Tuesday that the Eliteserien club have knocked back a blockbuster opening bid worth £5.3million from Ibrox for the highly-rated 20-year-old midfield anchor.
Following a striking public admission from the player himself confirming that his head has been turned by the allure of Glasgow, Rangers are now widely thought to be preparing an improved second offer to test the Norwegian club’s resolve amid a £7.5m asking price.
Which midfielder can make Rangers title winners?
Danny Rohl is looking to sign at least one…
Tromso prepared to play Hjerto-Dahl waiting game
Speaking openly regarding the heavy interest mounting around the club’s prized homegrown academy product, Andressen made it perfectly clear that Tromso hold all the leverage in talks with Rangers chiefs.
Addressing the Light Blues’ rejected bid, the Tromso sporting director told TV2: “Now it’s because the bids haven’t been good enough.
“The interest around Jens is great, and there’s a long way left in the window. There’s still a lot that can happen, but as of now, it’s nowhere near anything.”
Andressen’s public positioning serves as a calculated message to the market.
By highlighting that there is still a “long way left” in the transfer period, the Tromso insider is indicating that the club are entirely comfortable playing the long game, waiting out European suitors to spark a lucrative bidding war rather than caving to early proposals.
Rangers know what they need to do
Andressen’s hardline stance will be heavily tested by the player’s own public stance.
Breaking his silence following the initial rejection, the Norway Under-21s international confessed that the prospect of playing for Rangers is an exceptionally appealing proposition.
Nicolas Raskin has been linked with a Rangers exit…
When pressed on whether a move to Ibrox was more enticing than joining Turkish giants Besiktas, Hjerto-Dahl did not mince his words, admitting that it is tempting to play in an Old Firm derby.
With Nicolas Raskin attracting heavy interest from across Europe following his brilliant displays for Belgium at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Derek McInnes is eager to secure high-calibre reinforcements for the engine room.
Tromso are holding out for a package closer to £7.5m, and with the player explicitly flashing a green light to Glasgow, the onus is now back on Andrew Cavenagh and Co. to return with an improved proposal that forces Andressen back to the table.
