Exclusive: Southampton preparing fresh transfer bid for Middlesbrough star Finn Azaz | OneFootball

Southampton are lining up a fresh bid for Middlesbrough playmaker Finn Azaz, Football League World has learned...

Finn Azaz's future at Middlesbrough remains very much up in the air ahead of next week's transfer deadline and Southampton are now set to return with a fresh bid for the Middlesbrough playmaker, sources have exclusively revealed to Football League World on Tuesday morning.

Last week, it was reported via X by talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook that Azaz is "keen to make the move", which came after the Daily Mail disclosed Southampton's prepared £12 million move for the talented attacking midfielder.

Azaz, who joined Middlesbrough from Aston Villa in a reported £2 million deal back in January 2024, has established himself as a standout performer at the Riverside Stadium. The 24-year-old hit the ground running by scoring four times and posting five assists from his opening 20 appearances in the second-half of the 2023/24 campaign, before truly defining his worth as one of the Championship's most productive playmakers by finding the back of the net on 12 occassions - while setting up a further 11 - as Middlesbrough fell short of achieving a top-six spot under now-ex-boss Michael Carrick.

Despite the ongoing speculation surrounding his future, Azaz has continued to feature and opened his account in Saturday afternoon's 2-1 victory at Norwich City, where he was handed his first start of the season by new head coach Rob Edwards.

Southampton plotting fresh Middlesbrough, Finn Azaz transfer offer

Southampton were reportedly set to lodge a £12 million bid for Azaz, with Middlesbrough holding out for "more than £10 million" in order to sanction the sale of the ex-Newport County and Plymouth Argyle starlet to a potential promotion rival.

The Saints, who will be hoping to achieve promotion under highly-rated head coach Will Still this term, are eager to acquire Azaz's services and will not relent in their pursuit quite just yet.

Sources have now informed Football League World that Southampton are poised to submit a fresh bid for Azaz, the value of which is not yet clear, with the two clubs having remained locked in dialogue ahead of a big exit on Teesside with under a week left to run in this summer's transfer window.

Middlesbrough are open to selling Azaz at the right price and the player himself is reportedly eager to complete the move, too, although it's worth noting that Boro are in no immediate rush to sell given that he remains under contract until the summer of 2028.

Southampton have the funds to sign Middlesbrough's Finn Azaz

It also needs to be factored in that Southampton do indeed have the financial muscle to get a deal over the line, having entered the first year of the Premier League's lucrative three-year mandated parachute payments package to relegated sides after heading straight back down to the Championship last term.

They have raised significant funds through player sales this summer, too, with the most notable one being Tyler Dibling's recent £35 million switch to Everton. Mateus Fernandes could also leave in the coming days, and the south coast side have a budget which dwarfes the vast majority of their second-tier counterparts and may prove crucial to getting a deal done for Azaz.

The sale of Dibling could quite feasibly encourage Middlesbrough to bump up their asking price, in the knowledge of the outlay received and Southampton's search for a replacement.

Only time will tell, of course, but while Southampton's interest is refusing to go away, Middlesbrough will also only bid farewell to Azaz once an offer meets their terms for the star midfielder.