CRYSTAL PALACE are keen on signing Ireland star Finn Azaz this summer.
Eagles scouts watched Middlesbrough midfielder Azaz, 24, star for the Boys in Green in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Bulgaria and are now weighing up a bid.
Oliver Glasner and Palace chiefs are keen on the 24-year-old[/caption]
Boro would be reluctant sellers as Azaz has three years left on his contract and is a key player for the promotion chasers.
Michael Carrick’s men are currently in eighth place in the Championship, three points outside the play-off spots with eight games remaining.
Their lofty position is in a large part down to Azaz who has scored ten goals and provided 11 assists from midfield, alerting Premier League teams.
SunSport understands that at least two other top-flight clubs have joined Crystal Palace in the hunt after the Boys in Green hotshot added to his burgeoning reputation across the two Nations League play-off legs against Bulgaria.
Azaz scored his first international goal in what was his fifth Ireland appearance in the away clash in Plovdiv last Thursday.
The playmaker then assisted Evan Ferguson’s equaliser in Dublin on Sunday evening.
His performances over the two showdowns have also cemented his position in Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side having made his debut 12 months ago against Switzerland under then-interim gaffer John O’Shea.
London-born Azaz had long been on Ireland’s radar as he made progress at West Brom and Aston Villa before a loan spell at Plymouth.
Also eligible for England and Israel, he decided his future was with Ireland in 2022.
His father Tim is from Cork, while great uncle Brian Murphy is a Rebels GAA legend.
Azaz made one appearance for the Ireland Under-21s and injury robbed him of a senior call-up in 2023, before he did make his senior breakthrough last year.
