Finn Azaz Makes Bold Claim After €14m Move, As Idah Nears Celtic Exit

Finn Azaz has immediately set his sights on Premier League football in 2026, and beyond, after securing a big money move to Southampton.

The Ireland international has switched from Middlesbrough to Southampton for an initial fee of £12 million (just under €14m) rising to a potential £14m (€16.2m) with add-ons. That, already, is enough to put him in the top 10 for most expensive transfers involving Ireland players.

"It feels amazing, obviously it's been talked about for a little while," Azaz told the Southampton website. "I'm really happy to be here and I'm really, really excited to prove I can play for a Premier League club.

"I know we're in the Championship now, but we're trying to operate at Premier League level to ultimately get promoted, win the league and get back to the Premier League." Azaz expanded on that point with a bold claim:

Knowing the league and knowing the players, I can see the club is a Premier League club and deserves to be back in the Premier League. "I’m established at this level, however this is a lot more expectation. The expectation is to win the league – that should be the expectation, looking at the squad, looking at the size of the club, the manager (Will Still). Me and him spoke about it – the expectation and what we should be doing is winning the league.

“I think we have similar philosophies on a lot of parts of the game," Azaz added. "We had a really in-depth conversation about football as a whole and how to win, and the freedom he gives his players out there as well."

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"Finn's stats speak for themselves," Still told BBC Radio Solent. "He's a proven goalscorer and assister in the Championship, he has scored and has been important for every team that he has played at. He has always been available between lines, he gets in the box and is able to anticipate things before most people.

Adam Idah may be joining Finn Azaz in the Championship, this season, but Brendan Rodgers is holding out for a slight striking upgrade.

READ HERE: Richie Sadlier Rips Into FAI With Damning Rant On Grim Future Of Irish Football

Adam Idah could follow Finn Azaz to Championship

There is a chance that Finn Azaz could face Ireland teammate Adam Idah in Championship action, in the coming weeks. Southampton are slated to play Swansea on October 18, by which point Idah could have settled into life with the Welsh side.

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Swansea are keen to bolster their Championship promotion hopes by adding Idah to their forward ranks. There has been contact between both clubs and Swansea are prepared to pay £7m for the Celtic striker, who scored 20 times for Rodgers' side last season.

Rodgers will not sanction the move, though, until Celtic bring in some firepower for the Premiership and Europa League campaigns. He is keen on Anderlecht and Denmark striker Kasper Dolberg.

The 27-year-old is available for £8.5m (€10m) but nothing has been agreed yet, so Rodgers is wisely keeping Idah close until that one gets over the line. Dolberg, who played three senior seasons at Ajax and had spells at Nice, Sevilla and Hoffenheim, has scored 12 goals in 55 games for Denmark.

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"There's interest in Adam, but no one can leave here unless we get players in to replace," said Rodgers. "It's as simple as that. There's been negotiations and chat around it, but I have to have players in here before I can consider letting anyone go."

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