Kristoffer Tønnessen: IK Start receive offer for Hibs-linked player, club chief says 'deal is close'

IK Start captain Kristoffer Tønnessen has been linked with a move to HibsIK Start captain Kristoffer Tønnessen has been linked with a move to Hibs
IK Start captain Kristoffer Tønnessen has been linked with a move to Hibs
Hibs have submitted an improved offer for IK Start captain Kristoffer Tønnessen, according to reports in Norway.

The Easter Road side were linked with the 23-year-old earlier this month following heightened interest in first-choice left-back Josh Doig and reportedly submitted an offer for Tønnessen that was rejected.

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The left-back, who has two goals and three assists from 15 appearances this season, appeared to say his farewells to the Start fans after a 1-1 draw with Sogndal last Sunday, fuelling speculation that he could leave the Sør Arena before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.

Start director Terje Marcussen confirmed to the Fædrelandsvennen newspaper this week that a new offer had been submitted for a player after an initial bid had been turned down for being too low. The player is understood to be Tønnessen and the club Hibs.

"There has been an offer for a player – a new offer,” Marcussen said.

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"We are starting to get closer to something that means that there can be an agreement [but] I don’t want to say anything other than there has been a new bid,” he added.

Tønnessen has remained tight-lipped on the speculation but has admitted that he would be open to moving overseas to further his career.

He is under contract until the summer of 2023, having signed a four-year deal when he made the move to Start from FK Jerv in 2019.

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"Nothing has been nailed down… I won’t comment on anything about clubs but I have ambitions to play abroad at some point,” he told the paper.

Tønnessen remained coy over whether he would feature in Sunday’s 1. divisjon clash with league-leaders Hamarkameratene.

"It depends on the team that Sindre [Tjelmeland, Start head coach] picks,” he said, before commenting “You can never say anything for sure in football” when asked if he would be a Start player after the transfer window shuts on August 31.

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Hibs head coach Jack Ross told the Evening News he was “pretty confident” of bringing in more faces before the end of the window.

He added: “I would be really, really surprised and disappointed if we didn’t add to the squad. We have worked pretty hard but I want to make sure that we bring in ones who can improve us and not just sign players for the sake of it.”

Meanwhile, Hibs are waiting for a response from St Johnstone on an improved bid for their defender Jamie McCart.

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According to The Scotsman, Hibs have submitted another bid but face competition from clubs south of the border.

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