Leeds United and Brighton & Hove Albion have been credited with interest in Southampton’s former Middlesbrough midfielder Finn Azaz.
He was instead lured away from the Riverside by Southampton, who paid a reported fee of £12m plus add-ons to land the Republic of Ireland international.
Azaz has been instrumental in Southampton’s rise up the Championship table, with the Saints now sixth after a torrid start to the season.
He has registered 10 goals and six assists across 37 league appearances and perhaps unsurprisingly, transfer talk has resurfaced.
Finn Azaz has scored 10 goals for Southampton this season.placeholder image
Finn Azaz has scored 10 goals for Southampton this season. | Steven Paston/PA Wire
Leeds United linked with ex-Middlesbrough midfielder
According to SportsBoom, Leeds boss Daniel Farke is keen on the attack-minded midfielder.
Azaz is said to have been added to his list of summer targets, with the Whites currently hoping they will be preparing for another season of Premier League football.
Brighton, meanwhile, are said to have watched Azaz on multiple occasions ahead of a potential summer move.
Finn Azaz’s career journey
If Azaz does make it to the Premier League, he will have taken the long way around. He failed to make senior breakthroughs at West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa in the top flight, instead finding himself loaned out repeatedly by the latter.
Finn Azaz made 67 appearances for Middlesbrough.placeholder image
Finn Azaz made 67 appearances for Middlesbrough. | George Wood/Getty Images
He is now playing a starring role at Southampton and has been urged to keep his form up by Saints boss Tonda Eckert.
Speaking to BBC Radio Solent after Azaz registered his 10th goal of the season against Norwich City, Saints ckert said: "We had some quality moments up the pitch and just needed to be resilient at the other end - I'm very happy.
“Double figures for Finn now, he's been working for that and now he has to make sure to keep going.”