The last few years have seen Aston Villa send several players on loan or sell to the EFL.
This includes Finn Azaz, who is currently at Middlesbrough after being permanently sold to the Championship club during the January window last season.
Azaz caught the attention of several people when he was at Plymouth Argyle a couple of seasons back.
Azaz is one of two Middlesbrough players who has started every single game in the Championship season so far.
The below radar highlights Finn Azaz’s ranks for some of the key metrics compared to other similar players from similar leagues.
Finn Azaz Radar Map
Azaz, who recently made his senior international debut for the Republic of Ireland, is an attacking midfielder.
He plays mostly as a no.10 but can also play as a left-sided midfielder.
He has even played as a centre-forward at times this season.
Azaz has the joint-most assists in the league, with five to his name and three goals as well.
This is more than any other Middlesbrough player.
After joining them only in January, Azaz contributed nine goals last season for Middlesbrough—only two other players had more.
This explains why he has been one of the first names on the starting XI this season so far.
With 2.85 shots per 90, Azaz is a high-volume shooter.
Azaz is also confident in his dribbling, with a success rate of 65% (2.43 dribbles per 90 minutes).
Under Michael Carrick’s tactics, Azaz is a key ball-progressor in a possession-heavy Middlesbrough team, and almost every chance comes through him.
His defensive work rate is questionable; he ranks low for several defensive metrics, including successful defensive actions per 90.
Finn Azaz has risen above expectations since his loan spell at Newport County, during which he contributed 10 goals.
He then was pivotal in Plymouth’s promotion to the Championship, finishing with 16 goals.
This season, he continues his rise by being an important part of the Middlesbrough setup.
If he continues this, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in the Premier League next season, with Middlesbrough or otherwise.
