Joe Savage 'targeted' as Hearts sporting director attracts English Premier League attention

English Premier League clubs are targeting Hearts sporting director Joe Savage, according to a report.

The Tynecastle recruitment chief came under fire at the Gorgie club’s AGM but the Daily Mail claim the 39-year-old is admired by top flight clubs south of the border for his work with the Scottish Premiership outfit and could make a move. Savage was appointed four years ago and has worked in England before both as chief scout at Preston North End and Norwich City and the report states his progress is 'continuing to be acknowledged within the game.'

Brighton recently lost transfer guru Sam Jewell to Chelsea and Southampton and Newcastle United could soon be on the lookout to fill similar roles with both Jason Wilcox and Dan Ashworth expected to move to Manchester United. Hearts are comfortably sitting in third place in the top flight but Savage spoke last year of some of the abuse he had received.

He said: "I’m not on social media but I hear it, I see it, I know it’s there. I know there is a pressure on me. One of the fans made sure to tell me there is a thread on (Jambos) Kickback about me, whether I should stay or I should go.

"I’m thinking that is really interesting because these are the pressures of the job people don’t tell you. Everyone says to you ‘don’t read it’. But it is not happening to you when they say don’t read it or don’t listen to it. You can’t help it, it is there.

"I’m quite comfortable showing this vulnerability. I think people need to hear this job is not all rosy, it’s not me going home, sitting with my feet up and lighting a cigar saying ‘what a day I’ve had today’. Decisions you need to make everyday are hard. You’ve got things with budgets, things with salary increases, bonuses, people wanting