Hearts are looking ahead to the January and summer transfer windows with the help of Jamestown Analytics.
The Jambos signed a deal with the firm founded by Brighton owner Tony Bloom to use their data systems in player recruitment and opposition analysis.
It’s believed this will give them the edge in the transfer market and hoped it can take them to the next level on the pitch.
Work is already underway to identify players for Neil Critchley’s side and Hearts are particularly looking for a striker and a left-sided centre-back next month.
But there will be other areas they look to target in January and in the summer, while there are also a host of current Hearts players out of contract.
Ex Hearts loanee Jimmy Dunne available on a free
One man Hearts wouldn’t need to use analytics to identify would be Jimmy Dunne.
The centre-back is very highly regarded by the Tynecastle support despite only being with the club on a short loan from Burnley back in 2018.
Dunne made 14 Jambos appearances and delighted fans with his committed, all-action displays at centre half. They would be thrilled if he was to ever return.
Now at QPR, the 27-year-old’s contract is up in the summer and he admits there have been no chats about extending.
Speaking after scoring in a 3-0 win over Norwich, Dunne told West London Sport: “I’ve had no conversations. We’ll see what happens I suppose. I haven’t really thought about it.”
Playing under former Hearts managerial target Marti Cifuentes, QPR have been up and down but Dunne hopes they’re now moving in the right direction.
He added: “I think the momentum has been building because the performances had been good and we deserved better results,” he explained.
“We’ve played games where we’ve deserved three points. There’s just such fine margins,
“People forget we’re a new group and we’re still bonding relationships with players that have come in from all over Europe. It takes time but it looks like we’re getting there.”
Dunne open to Hearts return
Dunne has previously admitted to being open to a return to Hearts one day.
The Republic of Ireland international opened up on the special relationship he has with the fans and the connection he felt with the club during his short stay.
And he definitely wouldn’t be against pulling on the maroon again.
“Yeah, I could,” he told Football Scotland back in 2022. “I could see that happening. There are a lot of places I want to go and things I need to achieve.
“But if someone told me I was going to play at Hearts again some day, I wouldn’t be disappointed that’s for sure.”
And on his connection with the fans, he added: “Yeah, my mates constantly remind me. If anything happens on Twitter or anything like that, there’s always Hearts fans fighting my corner.
“It’s nice to feel that I made an impact and they’re still supporting me even though I’m not their player. I think it’s rare you can get a player-club connection like that, so I do cherish it. And I’m really grateful for it as well.
“I understood it at the time to be that Tynecastle is a place where people go to the stadium to try and witness you give your life nearly to be there and represent the club.
“The club’s got such a rich history. When I first came they were doing a tour around the stadium and a presentation about past players who’d fought in the war. I just felt totally connected to the club and I felt like I understood the club and what it meant to people.
“I felt like it was an obligation to try my best and work my hardest. I think they could see that and appreciated it. Because that club could allow you to lose a game but if it was 100 per cent maximum effort the fans appreciate and notice that.”