OpTic have set their sights on Heroic star Nikolaj "⁠niko⁠" Kristensen as Nicklas "⁠gade⁠" Gade will be recalled by North, HLTV.org has learned.

niko has been on loan with North since the beginning of August as part of a deal that saw Daniel "⁠mertz⁠" Mertz move in the opposite direction.

North struck gold at their first event with the 20-year-old as they lifted the DreamHack Masters Stockholm trophy, but disappointment followed as the Danes bowed out of the Major in the New Challengers Stage with a 2-3 record.

niko close to reuniting with Snappi and JUGi

He is now earmarked by OpTic as a potential replacement for gade, who is close to returning to North after spending the last seven months on loan with the North American organisation, according to a report from DBLTAP and to information gathered by HLTV.org.

During gade's time with OpTic, the team most notably finished in second place at DreamHack Open Summer and at the Europe Minor. The Danes cut a frustrating figure at their last three events, finishing 5th-8th at the ZOTAC Cup Masters, 9th-12th at DreamHack Masters Stockholm and 9th-11th in the FACEIT Major's New Challengers Stage.

If the move comes to fruition, OpTic will be left with: