12-goal Middlesbrough FC star responds to Leeds United, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace transfer talk | OneFootball

Azaz was one of Boro's standout players last season.

Middlesbrough's Finn Azaz has responded to the reports linking him with a move to Premier League sides Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Leeds United.

A standout first full season in red and white in 2024/25 has launched the Irishman onto the watchlists of some top flight clubs.

According to The Sun, Azaz is wanted by Leeds, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace this summer, with a later report from the Irish Examiner stating that Palace were leading the race for the £21 million-rated player.

The 24-year-old is hoping to represent Ireland at the World Cup next summer, should they get there, and he made his international debut in March 2024, but didn't feature in his home nation's most recent friendlies against Luxembourg and Senegal.

He has admitted that he wants to play at the highest level in order to give himself the best chance of helping the Republic of Ireland make it to the 2026 tournament in the Americas, but that doesn't necessarily mean a move away from Boro and the Riverside stadium.

Middlesbrough's Finn Azaz responds to Premier League links

"I’m playing at a high level now," said Azaz, via Leeds Live. "The Championship is a really competitive league and it’s a really good league. I think it’s ranked sixth or seventh in Europe. I’ve got a contract with Boro of course. My focus is on pre-season at the moment.

"I’m really happy at my club. I’ve had a great year. I’ve got a lot of respect for everyone at the club, and it’s been amazing for me the last 18 months here. I had a great season personally, so obviously I want to keep developing and my ambition is to play at the highest level.

"Whether that be the Premier League or going abroad, I want to play at the highest level. I’m fully aware that there’s a lot of Premier League players in the Irish team, and I’m looking at the World Cup qualifiers and the World Cup next summer.

"I’m fully aware that you want to be playing against the best players week in, week out, to be in the best position possible for the World Cup qualifiers.

"In international football, the physicality of the opposition is sharper, it’s better. There are higher quality players. Look at England, look at Hungary, look at Bulgaria as well, they play in top leagues, at top clubs as well."

Finn Azaz will surely get a big move if he continues to produce for Middlesbrough

The natural next step for the creative midfielder is to eventually go up to the Premier League, or an equivalent division.

Now, that could be done with Boro, who officially appointed former Luton Town boss Rob Edwards on Tuesday.

He got the Hatters promoted to the top flight in 2023 via the play-offs, the same season that the Teessiders fell short in the semi-finals versus Coventry City.

Premier League promotion is what Edwards and his team are aiming for once again on Teesside, but it remains to be seen whether Azaz will be around to help them try and achieve that goal.

One thing is for sure, his words will fill the likes of Leeds, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace with confidence that he could well be attainable this summer, if they stump up Middlesbrough's asking price for their talismanic attacking midfielder.