Michael Duffy weighing up options amid Huddersfield, Peterborough interest

It’s understood EFL Championship outfit Huddersfield Town and high flying League One side, Peterborough United are the latest English clubs to have declared an interest in signing the 26 year-old winger on a free transfer.

Shrewsbury Town are also among the clubs linked with a move for the Derry man whose contract with FAI Cup champions Dundalk expired last week.

Dundalk and League of Ireland champions Shamrock Rovers have both offered substantial deals while Derry City have also made contact with the player in recent weeks.

Duffy refuses to rule anything out just yet but he believes a cross-channel move will strengthen his chances of breaking into the Republic of Ireland squad for next year’s World Cup qualifiers.

Duffy, who signed for Celtic as a 20 year-old in 2015, missed out on a first senior international call-up last month as the paperwork needed to formalise his switch from the IFA to the FAI wasn’t completed.

He hopes there will be no further hold-ups next March when Stephen Kenny takes his squad to Serbia and he’s convinced a move to England will take his game onto the next level.

“I feel I’m ready to go to England,” declared Duffy.

“I realise playing in England will give me the best platform and the best chance to break into the Ireland team.

“At this point in my career I feel I’m ready to test myself at a higher level.

“I know there’s interest from a few teams in Ireland but I haven’t actually had a proper think about it to be honest as I’ve only finished the season on Thursday.

“I’ll start talking with my agent now and we’ll weigh up our options and see what’s best for me.

“I haven’t really ruled anything out just yet. I’m open to all options at the minute.

“There’s been nothing concrete from England just yet. I’ll relax for a week or two and then start weighing up all my options.

“I’m in no real hurry as I’m glad to get the season over.”

The disappointment at missing out in Ireland’s Nations League game against Bulgaria last month is something Duffy is anxious to put right in the New Year.

“It’s taken two years for that paperwork to be sorted out so hopefully that’s sorted if the opportunity comes up for me again.

“As much as it was disappointing for me that week, just knowing I should’ve been in the squad and that Stephen has been watching me and I was part of his plans, I have to take the positives from that.

“Hopefully I can build on that.”

Despite the success in the Europa League and the FAI Cup Final win, Duffy admits it’s been a tough year and he’s welcomed the end of the season as he plans Christmas back home with his family in Derry.

“It’s been a good year overall, especially the end, winning the cup and playing Arsenal in the Europa League was class.

“However, I think because we wanted to win the league so much that it put a bit of a dampener on things. That’s how much the league meant to us. It was a bit of an up and down year and, to be honest, I couldn’t wait until it was over. It was a tough year all round.”

He refuses to close any doors and while he mulls over a new contract from Dundalk where he’s spent the last three years, he believes the appointment of Jim Magilton as Sporting Director will be good for the Co. Louth club.

“It’s not ideal that we’ve come to the end of the year with so many people out of contract. I know Jim has come in and I know him from Northern Ireland U21s and he was brilliant there.

“I’m sure he will be great for the club but I imagine he will have a busy few weeks ahead,” predicted the Derry man.