Middlesbrough urged to be cautious over potential Sunderland transfer deal - "he'll feel very hard done by" | OneFootball

FLW's Middlesbrough fan pundit has had his say on Alan Browne, with the Sunderland loanee impressing out of position for Kim Hellberg.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Alan Browne has been in impressive form for Middlesbrough in recent weeks, and has become the unsung hero of Kim Hellberg's promotion-chasing side.

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, ironically, also featured 23 times this term in the Championship, scoring three times and assisting once, with all of his goals coming in his last four 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.

However, there have been times when he has been deployed in other areas, such is the broadness of his skill-set. Browne has picked up minutes for Preston as a full-back or wing-back, but seems to have found more of a home there with Boro in recent weeks, with his performance against the Lilywhites on Saturday being one of an incredibly attacking wing-back.

Middlesbrough urged to be cautious over potential permanent Alan Browne deal

When asked whether Boro should look to sign the utility man permanently, be that this summer or before the end of the current window, Football League World's Middlesbrough fan pundit Liam Day believes that the club need to wait until they know what division they are in come 2026/27.

Liam told VLW: "There's no doubt he was unbelievable against Stoke. And, at right-back, I think he really has found a place in this team whilst Callum Brittain is out.

"I do think we need to see where we are come the summer window. You've got to look at what Sunderland have done and see where they are in the league.

"And I know there's little-to-no chance we would recreate that if we went up, but they gave you the blueprint of what you need to do to actually stay up.

"That is to be really, really harsh to some players. I feel like a good amount of this team just would not get games in the Premier League — and I think Alan Browne is included in that.

"As much as he'll feel very hard done by, and you can understand why, I feel like he is a top-end Championship player but nothing more than that.

"I think we just have to wait and see if we're in the Championship. I don't see why not. Realistically, [Hayden] Hackney would leave and it gives us another option in midfield if we get Browne.

"And you could see him as a Jonny Howson-type player. But, if we are in the Premier League, I think we need a more quality player — and I just don't think he'd be right for us."

Alan Browne's incredible Championship experience

It's perhaps the right move 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.

There are only 23 players who have made more appearances in the Championship than Alan Browne, with only Andi Weimann, Barry Bannan, Jake Cooper, Jake Bidwell, and Tom Ince currently active in English football's second tier.

The intangibles like leadership and experience are why he has so much value, but Browne soon turns 31 and Middlesbrough may be looking for younger quality heading towards the summer.

Sunderland have showed exactly how you need to recruit if you want to make a difference in the Premier League rather than just making up the numbers, and 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.