Bristol City must rue losing out to Middlesbrough for Aston Villa transfer | OneFootball

Missing out on Finn Azaz has been disappointing for Bristol City.

Almost a year on from signing Finn Azaz, Middlesbrough will be delighted they completed the deal as the Irishman continues to show his quality.

Having forked out a reported £2.5 million for the former Plymouth Argyle player, he has gone on to be a key figure for Michael Carrick.

However, at the other end of the spectrum, Bristol City will be rueing their missed opportunity.

The Robins matched the same figure as Boro and personal terms were not an issue, but instead the 24-year-old decided to sign for the North East club.

This was a damning outcome for Liam Manning, who instead had to target other individuals. He eventually secured Scott Twine, who has shown glimpses of his potential at BS3, but injuries and inconsistencies have unfortunately hindered his impact since arriving at Ashton Gate.

Scott Twine has struggled as Azaz alternative

Having opted to sign Twine as their "specialist" playmaker, Bristol City are still awaiting a significant impact from their number 10.

Initially joining on a loan deal from Burnley in January 2024, Manning and the BS3 board opted to make the deal permanent in August as they signed him for £3.2 million plus add-ons.

During his initial six-month spell, we saw hints of the form that earned Twine a strong reputation under Manning at Milton Keynes Dons, where he contributed 33 goals and assists in 50 appearances.

Standout performances against Watford and Rotherham highlighted his potential, but ultimately his contribution record needs increasing.

Unfortunately, he has once again struggled to make an impact on the scoring charts this term, as he has managed just one goal in nine appearances. His favoured position of left-wing has also been taken up by Anis Mehmeti, who has earned the trust of the head coach after several good performances.

This rise in the Albanian's form will only increase the pressure on Twine, and given the substantial seven-figure fee paid for the playmaker, he will need to start delivering on his potential.

Bristol City will rue Finn Azaz miss

In stark contrast to Twine, Azaz has delivered on his promise at the Riverside Stadium.

Having joined Boro permanently last January, he has become a pivotal figure in Carrick's side, making 37 appearances to date. During that period, he has managed 16-goal contributions and his performance on Saturday against Oxford United was symptomatic of a player in full faith of his potential.

Playing behind Emmanuel Latte Lath, he provided the striker with two assists and netted two for himself as they won 6-2 at the Kassam Stadium.

He adds far more than just this though, with the 24-year-old persistently demanding the ball to his feet as he looks to create for others around him. To this point, he has created 44 chances and is a key reason why Boro boast an expected goals (xG) figure of 30.7.

All of these readings will undoubtedly be a source of disappointment for Bristol City, who could have secured Azaz for nearly £1 million less than what they paid for Twine. While nothing is guaranteed in football, had they signed the Irishman instead, they might well have found themselves in a very different position, potentially swapping places with Carrick's side.

Manning's challenge now is to unlock the potential of Twine. With just four goal contributions in 19 appearances, his return so far falls short of expectations. If he can overcome his injury issues and secure a regular spot in the team, he can begin to justify that £3.4 million fee and propel the Robins up that league table.