Exclusive: Middlesbrough urged to take clear transfer stance on Leeds United & Bournemouth target | OneFootball

Speaking exclusively with FLW, Lee Hendrie has been discussing the situation surrounding Middlesbrough's Finn Azaz amid links to Leeds & Bournemouth.

Middlesbrough star Finn Azaz has been linked with a potential big-money move to the Premier League this summer.

A recent report from the Irish Independent has claimed that newly promoted top flight side Leeds United and Bournemouth have joined Crystal Palace in the race to sign the 24-year-old.

It's claimed that Boro value the Republic of Ireland international at around £20m, after his superb 2024/25 season in the Championship which saw the attacking midfielder bag 12 goals and 11 assists in 45 second tier appearances.

As such, Azaz has undoubtedly cemented himself as one of the division's leading attackers, and with the Teessiders failing to end their Premier League exile once again this past term, questions will be asked as to whether Boro will be able to resist cashing in on him should a sizeable offer land on their desk this summer.

"It would not surprise me" - Lee Hendrie makes Middlesbrough, Finn Azaz transfer claim

Speaking exclusively with Football League World, we asked Sky Sports pundit and former player, Lee Hendrie: 'Leeds and AFC Bournemouth want to sign Middlesbrough's Finn Azaz. Thoughts? Must Boro do all they can to keep him?'

Hendrie said: "Yes. If Boro are to get promoted, they need to keep their big players.

"They need to keep players that are going to take them forward, and they need to keep players that know the Championship. This is the problem with Boro: they have players, and they don't seem to keep hold of them.

"Then all of a sudden, you're disrupting the rhythm, the squad, you're having to bring in players that are like-for-like. So yes, I do feel that keeping Finn Azaz is a massive must for Boro, because they should be building around these kind of players if they are to go and materialise and take that plunge into the Premier League.

"You must see that when you let players like that go, or in Boro's case, they haven't had the success again this season of not getting play-offs and not even having that promotion push, you are going to start getting attention from other places.

"His (Azaz) creativity has been amazing. He's scored goals this season, and when Premier League clubs come calling, you find it hard to keep hold of these players, because then you need to start offering them bigger money.

"That's when you start getting in a mess. So, if someone comes in for him, it would not surprise me if Boro end up selling, and trying to rebuild again. But, I think that's been their downfall, and that's why they haven't been promoted in the last few seasons."

Finn Azaz void would be incredibly tough for Boro to fill - Middlesbrough will see big profit if sale goes through

Signed for around £2m from Aston Villa in January 2024, Azaz took a little time to warm up on Teesside, but he's been red-hot for Carrick's side this past season.

The Irishman has been a chance-creating, goal-providing machine for Boro, whilst also showcasing his ability to operate on either flank as well as in his natural number 10 position.

Therefore, it's no surprise to see Premier League clubs circling for his signature this summer, but thankfully from a Middlesbrough perspective, they will sit down at any negotiation table holding pretty much all the cards.

The former Plymouth Argyle man penned a four-and-a-half-year contract at the Riverside in January of last year, meaning Boro have absolutely no pressure to sell their talismanic attacker this summer.

As per a report from The Northern Echo, it's understood that it would take an 'extremely significant' offer to even lift an eyelid for a potential sale as far as the Championship side are concerned.

Hendrie is right, if Middlesbrough want to finally get back amongst the big boys in English football, then retaining and building around star players like Azaz is going to be absolutely essential.

Whilst fans will enjoy seeing their club bank major profits on relatively cheap investments, nothing can compare with the riches of being a Premier League side, and to do that, they're going to need players like Azaz.