Aston Villa: Finn Azaz Premier League verdict shared as he quits Villa Park in January transfer
We’re delighted to welcome Sky Sports journalist Dan Bardell as our exclusive Aston Villa columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the club…
Aston Villa took advantage of the form of Finn Azaz during his loan spell with Plymouth Argyle to secure a fee from Middlesbrough, according to Dan Bardell.
Villa announced on their website on 5 January that the 23-year-old has joined the Championship side for an undisclosed fee, believed to be about £2.5million.
It comes after the former Republic of Ireland U-21 international, who signed for the Villans in 2021 from West Brom, was recalled from his loan spell with Argyle earlier this month, having scored seven goals and laid on five assists in the second tier this season.
Bardell believes Azaz will prove to be a success at Boro under Michael Carrick and suggested he could be one day go on to become a Premier League player.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bardell said: “He’s 23, he’s had two really good loan spells, three if you include the fact he’s been at Plymouth twice.
“His stock is relatively high in Championship terms, I think he was out of contract in the summer. At 23, if he was going to make it at Villa, he probably would’ve done it by now.
“Villa have accelerated their progress with where they are in the league as well. He’s a good Championship player at the moment and Villa have taken advantage of that and got a fee from Middlesbrough for him.
“I think he’ll go to Middlesbrough and, under Michael Carrick, he’ll do really well and pick up where he’s left off at Plymouth. I love a goalscoring midfielder and that’s exactly what Finn Azaz is.
“Good luck to him, I wish him all the best. I’d expect him to do well at Boro. Maybe one day he will become a Premier League player, it just won’t be with Villa.”
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