3 Finn Azaz replacements Middlesbrough should target amid Leeds United, Crystal Palace & Bournemouth interest | OneFootball

FLW takes a look at three players Middlesbrough should be looking at if Finn Azaz makes a Premier League move this summer.

Middlesbrough star Finn Azaz is being targeted by Premier League trio Leeds United, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace ahead of a possible summer switch to the top flight.

A report from the Irish Independent on 27 May has revealed that Boro's 24-year-old attacking midfielder looks set to be the subject of significant Premier League interest this summer.

The Republic of Ireland international enjoyed a superb 2024/25 season with the Teessiders, bagging 12 goals and 11 assists in 45 Championship appearances.

Having signed from Aston Villa in January last year for a fee of £4m, The Irish Sun claim that Middlesbrough value their prolific attacker at around £20m.

So, as Boro look set for a big payday this summer, Football League World takes a look at three potential replacements the Teessiders should consider if Azaz gets his Premier League move.

Dominik Fitz

Austria Wien

Middlesbrough have enjoyed some major success casting their net into the European market of late, with excellent returns on investments such as: Emmanuel Latte Lath and Rav van den Berg.

Should they once again set their sights on that market this summer, in Austria Wien attacking midfielder Dominik Fitz, Boro could bag themselves a real gem.

The 25-year-old has been a goal contribution machine over the last few years for the Austrian Bundesliga side, scoring 35 goals and providing 31 assists in 111 appearances in all competitions over the last three seasons - per FotMob.

Having been with the club since he was a boy, Fitz is only contracted with Austria Wien until 2026, meaning he and the club may strongly consider a transfer this summer.

Capable of playing anywhere across the forward line and even as a traditional central midfielder, Fitz' natural position is as a number 10, and he's proven himself to be among the most creative players in Austrian football in recent times.

There aren't many attacking midfielders who can register double-figure goals and assists in one individual season; Azaz did exactly that this past season, and Fitz has accomplished that feat in two of his last three campaigns.

As such, his signature could go a long way to replacing Azaz's excellent attacking output.

Daan Heymans

Sporting Charleroi

Another attacking midfielder who has lit up his respective European league this season, Sporting Charleroi attacking midfielder Daan Heymans has enjoyed the best individual campaign of his career so far this term.

Ahead of the Belgian top flight club's final game of the season on 29 May, the 25-year-old has registered 14 goals and two assists in 38 league outings, whilst adding another goal in the cup.

Heymans is only contracted with Sporting Charleroi until 2026, and he looks certain to leave the club this summer.

The Belgian has been in talks over a potential move to fellow Belgian top flight side Genk for a number of weeks, and has admitted that he would like to make a move this summer.

However, despite extensive talks, no such deal is yet to materialise, potentially suggesting the two clubs are some distant apart in their possible valuations of the player.

Therefore, Boro could spot an opportunity to swoop in for a player who is evidently seeking a move away this summer, and bag themselves their Azaz replacement from under Genk's noses.

Grady Diangana

Free agent - formerly of West Bromwich Albion

Despite the fact that Middlesbrough stand to receive a large cash injection from any Finn Azaz sale, that shouldn't mean they have to reinvest big money on his replacement.

One potentially highly shrewd piece of business they could do to replace their attacking midfield talisman is the signing of former West Bromwich Albion star, Grady Diangana.

The 27-year-old will leave The Hawthorns following the expiration of his contract at the end of June, and will then be available for clubs to sign as a free agent.

Diangana - a former England youth international and current DR Congo international - has proven himself to be a quality player at Championship level during his time with the Baggies, despite enduring a slightly sub-par season in 2024/25.

In 2023/24, the versatile attacking midfielder bagged seven goals and eight assists in 38 Championship appearances for the Baggies, and even made 20 Premier League outings during the club's 2020/21 season in the top flight.

At 27, he's still very much in the prime years of his career, and a change of scenery could be all that is required to get him back to his best, which is a top-class player at Championship level.

This would be a low-risk, high-reward move for Middlesbrough to make, and could see them land a dynamic and influential Azaz replacement for no fee at all, allowing the funds generated from his sale to be invested in other areas of the squad.