Finn Azaz en route to Middlesbrough as £2.5m Aston Villa transfer agreed, pundit against ideas of deal

Alan Hutton, a former full-back for Aston Villa, is joining us as our exclusive columnist. He will provide his opinions on the most talked-about topics at Villa Park every week.

Finn Azaz’s loan agreement at Plymouth appears to be opposed by Alan Hutton, who wants him to sign with Middlesbrough.

Prior to becoming a regular this season in the Championship, Azaz, 23, spent the previous 1.5 seasons on loan at Arygle, where he was instrumental in their League One campaign that resulted in promotion.

On January 3, however, PlymouthLive revealed that Middlesbrough is now

expected to pay £2.5 million to get the former West Brom midfield player.

Hutton thinks Azaz would benefit more from sticking at Plymouth, but it appears

Villa has already formed an opinion on the former Ireland Under-21 international.

“A player should stay where he is when he goes out on loan and is performing well,” Hutton stated to Villa News.

“The youngster will find it really challenging to be at Plymouth, return to Villa, and then travel to Middlesbrough, or whatever the situation may be. It’s difficult mentally.

You’re still getting used to stuff at that age, so traveling around a lot isn’t ideal.

“I don’t know what Unai Emery feels about Azaz, but if you don’t think the player has much left in him going forward, then let him finish the season and look to move him on in the summer.”

Journalist Mike McGrath of the Telegraph noted on January 3 that Azaz is en route to Middlesbrough for a medical

examination following Villa’s decision to terminate his loan at Plymouth.