Joe Savage has helped Preston North End fly up the Championship table but will he leave Deepdale for Premier League strugglers Southampton?
Southampton have identified Preston North End’s head of recruitment Joe Savage as the potential replacement for Ross Wilson at St Mary’s, according to the Independent.
The Saints are undergoing big changes behind the scenes with Wilson, who spent six years on the south coast as the club’s sporting director, leaving to take over at Rangers recently.
And suggestions that Savage could take up the reigns at the Premier League strugglers won’t go down well at Preston, who are already having to deal with speculation surrounding the future of manager Alex Neil after a superb start to the Championship season.
Savage was hired by the Lancashire outfit in 2017, having worked alongside Neil at Hamilton and Norwich City, and was tasked with identifying intelligent, affordable signings to improve Preston’s first team.
Considering that the Lilywhites are second in the table after 15 Championship games, just two points shy of leaders West Bromwich Albion, its fair to say Savage and Neil have done an excellent job at Deepdale.
To make their current form even more impressive, The Independent points out that Preston have one of the tightest budgets in the division.
Hearts also need a new director and the Scottish Premiership strugglers are on the trail of Savage too, though the opportunity to work in the top flight with Southampton might be an opportunity that is simply too good to turn down.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
