Alan Browne has been in excellent form for Middlesbrough in recent months, becoming one of the key components due to his versatility for Kim Hellberg’s promotion-chasing side.

Sunderland are sat on 40 points after 29 Premier League games, with securing another top flight campaign very much on the cards for the 2026/27 season. That means they are likely to continue churning the squad.

Fan favourites like Patrick Roberts have already been moved on permanently to make way for big-money signings more befitting of the league they are in. It could allow a player like Browne to move on permanently this summer following his loan to Middlesbrough this season.

The 30-year-old has never played a Premier League game but there are only 23 players who have made more appearances in the Championship than Alan Browne, with only Barry Bannan, Jake Cooper, Jake Bidwell, and Tom Ince currently active in English football’s second tier.

Middlesbrough loanee Alan Browne will be allowed to leave Sunderland this summer

The Irishman is seeking his second promotion from the Championship in as many seasons, having appeared 23 times for Sunderland in 2024/25 after signing from Preston North End on a free transfer.

He scored once that season, with Browne already surpassing that figure with Boro so far. He has featured 31 times this term in the Championship, scoring four times and assisting once, with all of his goals coming in his last 11 league outings.

For most of his career in the Championship, Browne has played a variety of midfield roles. That includes being more of a box-to-box or attack-minded midfielder, as well as in a double-pivot role ahead of the defence.

This season has been no different when testing his versatility, with Browne featuring as a right-back, right-sided wing-back, and in various central midfield roles already in recent games. Now, Browne is wanted by Boro fans permanently, but in the right circumstances.

Browne will still have a year to run on his Sunderland contract, though it appears that the Black Cats won’t stand in the way of the midfielder leaving on a permanent deal this summer.

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That’s according to Dominic Shaw of The Northern Echo, who reports Browne and others can leave the Stadium of Light. Irrespective of promotion or not, an experienced utility player could be the sort of addition Hellberg wants for 2026/27.

Middlesbrough might try to replicate Sunderland’s approach to the summer transfer window

Perhaps the right move is to reassess where they are in the pyramid come the summer, given that Sunderland went up and bought plenty of players, meaning Browne was quickly discarded.

Boro might want to do the same, even if intangibles like leadership and experience are why he has so much value. That said, Browne soon turns 31 and Middlesbrough may be looking for younger quality heading towards the summer.

Alan Browne’s career stats by team
Years	Team	Appearances	Goals	Assists
2014-2024	Preston North End	414	46	26
2024-	Sunderland	23	1	0
2025-2026	Middlesbrough (loan)	31	4	1
2017-	Republic of Ireland	37	5	0

Sunderland’s approach to transfers is perhaps what many promoted sides will look to replicate from now on. Their blueprint involves a more ruthless approach to recruitment and sales.

They showed exactly how you need to recruit if you want to make a difference in the Premier League rather than just make up the numbers, which is why Browne therefore may not fit in with what Boro will need in a few months time if they carry on the way that they are going.