Sources: Aston Villa star Finn Azaz undergoing Middlesbrough medical after bid accepted
On-loan Aston Villa midfielder Finn Azaz is headed to the north-east for a medical at Middlesbrough, sources have told Football Insider.
Football Insider revealed on Wednesday (3 January) that Boro have agreed to pay Villa a fee of around £2million for Azaz after having a bid accepted.
The 23-year-old is now set to undergo medical checks on Teesside and personal terms are also being discussed as Michael Carrick’s side close in on a full agreement.
As previously revealed, Middlesbrough have beaten off interest from Southampton, Bristol City and Toulouse for the 23-year-old in what will be a statement signing.
Azaz had spent the first half of the 2023-24 campaign on loan at Plymouth and made a big impact in his first taste of Championship football.
He will be recalled from his Home Park spell should a full agreement be reached between Boro and the midfielder.
The London-born ace has made 28 appearances across all competitions for Plymouth so far this term, notching seven goals and five assists.
He also spent all of last season at Home Park as the Pilgrims won the League One title, racking up eight goals and 10 assists in 39 games.
Azaz joined Aston Villa from West Brom in 2021 but failed to make a senior appearance for either side.
But loan spells in the EFL with Cheltenham, Newport County and now Plymouth have seen his stock steadily rise and he will now get the chance to impress at a permanent new home.
Azaz could make his Middlesbrough debut against Aston Villa when the two sides face off in the FA Cup third round on Saturday (6 January).
Carrick’s Boro sit 12th in the Championship, four points adrift of sixth-place Sunderland in the playoffs.
In other news, AC Milan and Inter Milan in talks to sign Aston Villa star.