Finn Azaz en route to Middlesbrough as £2.5m Aston Villa transfer agreed, pundit against ideas of deal

We’re delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park…

Alan Hutton seems to be against the idea of Finn Azaz's loan deal at Plymouth being terminated so he can head to Middlesbrough.

Azaz, 23, has spent the last season and a half on loan at Arygle, playing a major role in their promotion-winning League One campaign before being a regular this term in the Championship.

However, PlymouthLive reported on 3 January that Middlesbrough are now set to sign the former West Brom midfielder for £2.5million.

Hutton believes that staying at Plymouth would be more beneficial for Azaz but it seems that Villa's mind is made up about the former Ireland Under-21 international.

"When a player goes out on loan and is doing well, he should stay where he is," Hutton told Villa News.

"It'll be very difficult for the boy to be at Plymouth, come back to Villa and then got to Middlesbrough, or whatever it may be. It's not easy mentally.

"At that age, you're still getting used to everything and moving about that much isn't ideal.

"I'm not sure about what Unai Emery thinks of Azaz but if you don't see a future in the player moving forward, if that's the case, let him see out the season and then look to move him on in the summer."

Telegraph journalist Mike McGrath has added on 3 January that Azaz is on his way to Middlesbrough for a medical after Villa opted to cut short his loan spell at Plymouth

In other Aston Villa news, Hutton says he cannot believe what one player did earlier this week.