Liverpool enter race to sign 18-year-old star from Norwegian club - Reports

Liverpool have reportedly entered the race to sign 18-year-old Norwegian midfielder Jens Hjerto-Dahl from Tromso Idrettslag in Norway. According to HITC, the Reds have been following the youngster for over a year and are among the clubs thinking of making a move this summer.

Jens Hjerto-Dahl came through the Tromso youth ranks and made his debut for the senior team last season. The 18-year-old has represented his country at the U-19 level and is considered to have huge potential.

Alongside Liverpool, English clubs like Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Everton, Coventry City, Fulham, and Sheffield United, are also tracking the youngster. Hjerto-Dahl has also attracted interest from other European clubs like Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Stuttgart, Valencia, Sevilla, and Monaco.

The midfielder, despite his tender age, stands out on the field with his 6-foot 4-inch frame. He is a central midfielder who can also play defensive midfield, a position that Liverpool have struggled to recruit in.

"Two other teams were just more consistent" - Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk on last season's title race

Liverpool are gearing up for the 2024-25 Premier League season under new manager Arne Slot without having added a new signing to their squad so far. Last season, Liverpool challenged on four fronts and although they won the League Cup, they fell short in the Premier League to Manchester City and Arsenal. In the FA Cup and Europa League, the Reds bowed out in the quarter-final stage.

In an interview with ESPN, club captain Virgil van Dijk was asked what he felt was the reason for the Reds falling short. The Dutchman lauded City and Arsenal and said that the two clubs had more quality and dealt with the situation better than them.

"Obviously two other teams were just more consistent, they were better in dealing with the situation, they had more quality at the time," Van Dijk said (via Liverpoolfc.com).

Van Dijk highlighted that it was inexperience and bad luck with injuries that cost the side at the end of the season.

"And we were maybe a little bit too inexperienced. We had a little bit of injuries, we were not good enough, maybe the nerves kicked in," the 33-year-old admitted.

However, he mentioned that the team won't sulk around but learn from that experience and prepare for the upcoming season.

“But I think everyone had to reflect, had to think about what happened last season over the summer, and come back with an improved mindset and skillset as well in order to perform until the very last day and hopefully be successful," Van Dijk concluded.

Liverpool will begin their Premier League campaign away from home against newly promoted side Ipswich Town on Saturday (August 17).