In 2010, Conor Clifford looked like a future star of the Irish team.
The Dubliner played for Ireland at numerous underage levels, and was a contemporary of the likes of Jeff Hendrick, Shane Duffy and Robbie Brady. He never won a senior cap, but was included in numerous squads.
Clifford captained Chelsea to the FA Youth Cup in 2010. That team included future Turkey international Gokhan Tore and Dutch defender Jeffrey Bruma.
The 25-year-old never played a competitive game for Chelsea, and left the club for a number of loan spells. He moved to Leicester in 2010, before spells at Southend and Barnet.
He currently plays for Boreham Wood, in the National League, the top-tier on non-league football. Clifford joined the club in August 2015, and according to reports in the Irish Independent, he may be about to return home, and join Dundalk.
Despite interest from clubs in England, the Irish Independent claim "the player is open to the idea of moving home for a fresh start and Dundalk initially spoke to him before Christmas. They held further talks yesterday with a view to agreeing a deal."
Dundalk's main signing in the off-season was defender Sean Hoare, but the club have been weakened with the departures of numerous players, most notably Daryl Horgan, Ronan Finn and Andy Boyle.
The Premier Division champions begin their title defence, at home to Shamrock Rovers on February 24th.
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