Former Chelsea youth star could be joining Dundalk

Conor Clifford is in talks with Dundalk ahead of a potential move.

Clifford, a former Chelsea youth star, is currently playing for Boreham Wood in the National League, but is considering the option of returning to Ireland, according to The Irish Independent. The 25-year-old midfielder also has an offer from League Two side Crawley Town, where he had a spell on-loan from Chelsea in 2012. However, he is said to be open to the idea of playing for Dundalk and a "fresh start" back home. He held talks with Stephen Kenny last month. The Dubliner was one of the hottest properties in Irish youth football. He played in the same Crumlin United youth-team as Richie Towell and Andy Boyle, before joining Chelsea in 2007. Clifford signed a professional deal the following year and captained the club's youth side to the prestigious FA Youth Cup in 2010. He scored the winning goal in the final. A series of loan moves followed, at clubs such as Crawley, Notts County and Portsmouth, before Clifford was released by Chelsea in January 2013. He then signed for Leicester City, but failed to make an appearance and was released that summer. Clifford then signed a two-year deal with Southend in League Two. In February 2015, he joined Barnet in non-league football on-loan, but didn't stay for long. He signed for Boreham Wood on a permanent deal that summer. The club are currently 10th in the division below League Two.   Clifford played for the Republic of Ireland at U17, U19 and U21 level. He was called into senior squads by Giovanni Trapattoni in 2011 and 2012, but didn't get any playing time. It could be a wise move for the midfielder to return home. After a setback in British football, a spell in the League of Ireland did wonders for Clifford's former teammate Towell.