St Pat's want to swoop for Adam O’Reilly after Preston North End said he is free to leave the Championship club.
And Corkman O’Reilly, 21, admits the parting of the ways is ‘a weight off his back’ as he looks to nail down regular game time.
Preston will put his name around English clubs, but the all-action midfielder could make a swift return to the Saints after impressing in a season-long loan move this year.