Rangers and Cardiff City transfer target Jens Hjerto-Dahl has left fans guessing over his future after scoring in Tromso’s 4-1 win against HamKam.
The 20-year-old Norway U21 midfielder netted a screamer in the Eliteserien clash on Saturday, further raising his profile ahead of a potential summer move.
Hjerto-Dahl admitted after the final whistle that he could not promise supporters this was not the last time they would see him in a Tromso shirt.
Speaking to local media, he said: “They ask me to stay and ask if it was the last game. I don’t have the energy to answer that much. I’m taking it day by day and week by week.”
He added: “There is a lot of speculation at the moment, people are shooting from the hip a bit and think they know what is happening. We will see what happens in the end.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, the midfielder expressed genuine excitement at the prospect of featuring in European football next week.
He said: “We’ll see, I’ll take it day by day and week by week… It would be really fun to play the European qualifiers on home soil, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
The comments amount to a coded appeal to remain involved, with Tromso set to face Czech Republic side Hradec Kralove in the Europa League next Thursday.
Tromso head boss Jorgen Vik praised the youngster for maintaining his focus during a turbulent period of transfer speculation surrounding his future.
Vik said: “It’s strong, he is a role model for many in that area. He lives in the present and is very invested in Tromsø Idrettslag.”
Rangers have tracked Hjerto-Dahl for close to 12 months, and the player has openly stated his willingness to make the move to Ibrox.
Record Sport revealed last week that the deal was at risk of collapsing, with Tromso reportedly refusing to budge from their £7.5 million valuation of the player.
However, the transfer could be gaining momentum again, with Real Betis pushing hard to sign Nico Raskin, for whom Rangers hope to bank £20 million.
That potential windfall could unlock funds needed to meet Tromso’s asking price for Hjerto-Dahl, giving the deal renewed life heading into the final weeks of the transfer window.
Meanwhile, Partizan Belgrade skipper Vanja Dragovic is poised to become Derek McInnes’ seventh signing of the summer in a deal worth around £4 million.
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