Sources: Sunderland AFC transfer twist involving Alan Browne revealed | OneFootball

A number of EFL clubs are monitoring Alan Browne's situation at Sunderland, Football League World has learned

Several clubs in the EFL are keeping close tabs on Alan Browne's situation ahead of a potential exit from Sunderland following promotion to the Premier League, Football League World can exclusively reveal.

The Black Cats gained promotion alongside Leeds United and Burnley by defeating Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final at the end of the previous month, having dramatically advanced past Frank Lampard's Coventry City in an enthralling two-legged semi-final.

Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, Kristjaan Speakman and Regis Le Bris will now be looking to conduct the requisite squad surgery to help Sunderland bridge the ever-widening gap between the Championship and the Premier League, which has seen all six newly-promoted sides relegated straight back down over the last two campaigns.

Sunderland have already completed their first signing in the form of Enzo Le Fee, who has joined on a permanent basis for up to €23 million (£19.3 million) after the purchase obligation in his loan agreement from Roma was triggered in the wake of promotion.

More signings will be required if Le Bris' side are to threaten to achieve survival, although an influx of players at the Stadium of Light in the coming weeks and months may necessitate outgoings.

Alan Browne transfer twist

As per Sunderland's freshly-published retained list, no players in Le Bris' first-team squad are currently set to leave the club on a free transfer.

However, there will likely be a host of departures across the summer months, and Browne's situation appears to be one to watch at this stage.

Sources close to FLW have revealed that several unnamed clubs in the EFL are monitoring the state of play with the midfielder.

FLW understands there is a general feeling that Browne, who started just 13 matches in the Championship last season, could struggle for minutes at Premier League level and clubs elsewhere are keeping tabs as a result.

Browne joined Sunderland just last summer following his departure from Preston North End and made 22 league appearances, although, as mentioned, only 13 of those were starts across a spread of 1,209 minutes, with the likes of Dan Neil, Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham often preferred by Le Bris.

The exciting permanent addition of Le Fee, meanwhile, who was often deployed as a left-winger during the second-half of the season to fill in for the injured Romaine Mundle but will be expected to return to his natural central midfield position in the Premier League, could push Browne further down the pecking order on Wearside.

Although Jobe appears set to depart for Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund, freeing up a space in the midfield ranks, it does look as though Sunderland will bid to bolster most areas of the pitch, and it's difficult to see Browne making too much of an impact in the top-flight.

Alan Browne's Sunderland AFC contract situation

The 30-year-old penned a three-year contract at the Stadium of Light last summer and still has two years to run on that deal, meaning Sunderland will surely be looking to command some sort of transfer fee for his services.

According to Capology, meanwhile, a site which provides estimated information on player salaries, Browne is collecting a weekly wage of £15,000 in the North East.

It's not the type of salary which Sunderland will be desperate to get off the books as they prepare to enjoy the riches of life in the Premier League, and it's also one many Championship clubs will deem affordable.

A departure would make a lot of sense, then, and it will come as no surprise if the Republic of Ireland international moves on before the end of August.