DEREK McINNES has Hearts absolutely flying in the Scottish Premiership this season.
So it’s perhaps little surprise that the incredible job he’s doing would be recognised by other clubs.
In his first season in charge at Tynecastle, McInnes has Hearts sitting top of the Scottish Premiership table.
The Jambos are enjoying an incredible campaign and currently six four points clear of Rangers and six ahead of Celtic with 15 games left of the season left to go.
Hearts‘ recruitment has been lauded with little known signings such as Claudio Braga and Alexandros Kyziridis emerging as some of the top performers in Scottish football.
McInnes, 54, left his role at Kilmarnock to take up post in Gorgie at the end of last season.
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His name was floated as a potential candidate for the Rangers job after Russell Martin was sacked in October.
McInnes directly addressed that speculation head-on and reaffirmed his commitment to Hearts.
Speaking back then, he said: “Normally if you’re a manager you’re usually fighting off speculation about trying to keep your job, but if you’re doing well then there’s speculation (too).
“My job is firmly here at Hearts, I’m really enjoying it here.
“I’ve wanted to be here for a long time, I’m really enjoying my work here. We really feel like we’ve started something now and we want to make sure we follow up a strong start to the season and see where it takes us.
“I firmly believe we can be successful here.”
Three months down the line, McInnes and Hearts still lead the way in the Premiership.
And as he continues to work wonders at Tynecastle, he’s now reportedly on the radar of Leicester City.
The Foxes are enduring a bit of a nightmare season back in the Championship having been relegated from the Premier League last season.
They’ve won just 10 of their 29 league matches and currently sit in 14th spot.
Given the tight nature of the division, they are only six points off of the play-off spots in what is an ever-changing picture.
But their stuttering promotion posh has seen Marti Cifuentes pay the price.
The Spanish boss was axed on Monday after just six months in charge after a 2-1 home defeat to second-bottom Oxford United.
Leicester, who famously won the Premier League title a decade ago, are now on the hunt for a new boss.
And according to the Daily Mail, McInnes is one of the names under consideration as they draw up their shortlist of potential candidates.
The report says Leicester are looking for an experienced manager to help them climb back up the table.
Former Leicester defender Gary Rowett is another name reportedly in the frame for the role.
The former defender is out of work after being dismissed by Oxford in December.
Ex-Rangers loanee Andy King is currently in interim charge and is slated to take the team in Saturday’s upcoming league clash with Charlton.
Rowett is the current bookies’ favourite ahead of King to land the role permanently.
Former Rangers boss Russell Martin is also one of the names favoured by the bookmakers.
Meanwhile, Hearts’ next Premiership match is already under some DOUBT.
McInnes is due to take his side to Tannadice on Saturday to face Dundee United.
But the pitch there has been battered by the rain for much of the past two weeks and the conditions led to last week’s clash with St Mirren being postponed.
Terrors boss Jim Goodwin has revealed ground staff at Tannadice are working “day and night” to try and make sure the game goes ahead as planned this weekend.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
