MusaCrystal Palace are leading the race to sign highly-rated Middlesbrough star Finn Azaz this summer, according to the Irish Examiner, via Football League World.
The Eagles are preparing for their first season in the Europa League after they successfully won the FA Cup for the first time in their history in the 2024/25 season, and are looking to bolster their squad during the transfer window as a result.
Manager Oliver Glasner is expecting to lose a couple of top stars amid interest in Marc Guehi, Eberechi Eze, Adam Wharton and Jean-Philippe Mateta, and now the club may look to raid the Championship for one of it’s top stars once again.Crystal Palace Eyeing AzazMiddlesbrough want £20m for playmaker
Palace are well known for signing some top talent from the Championship and helping them develop into top players. Michael Olise, Eze, Wharton and most recently Romain Esse are some of the most well-known cases, but now Azaz is someone being targeted to be next in line.
The report states that it’s Crystal Palace who lead the race for the Middlesbrough playmaker, who has been described as an ‘unbelievable footballer’, as the Teeside club look for around £20m to let him leave the club.
The 24-year-old is also being eyed up as a target by fellow Premier League sides Leeds United and Bournemouth, but Palace’s reputation with developing young players puts them at the front of the queue.
| Finn Azaz Championship Stats 2024/25 | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 43(2) |
| Minutes | 3567 |
| Goals | 12 |
| Assists | 11 |
The future of Azaz remains up in the air despite him only arriving at Middlesbrough in January 2024, with Michael Carrick being sacked after failing to reach the playoffs for a third consecutive season.
If Azaz is to make the move to Selhurst Park, it’s likely that he would be seen as a replacement for star man Eze who has been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur this summer.
Palace’s transfer business may yet be determined by UEFA, who are currently deciding whether or not to allow them to compete in the Europa League due to John Textor’s ownership of both the Eagles and Lyon, although the south London club are battling to be allowed in as he doesn’t have a controlling stake.
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