Alan Browne has spoken in his first interview since being announced as Sunderland’s second summer signing.
It wasn’t long ago that reports had claimed Sunderland were interested in signing Browne, before it was claimed he was very ‘incredibly keen’ on moving to Wearside.
The midfielder had spent the last ten years at Preston North End and was named as their Player of the Year last season, before taking off his captain’s armband and rejecting a new contract.
Browne arrives at the Stadium of Light as one of only a handful of players over 25 years old, bringing experience and leadership to the middle of the park.
The Black Cats weren’t his only option though, with Lancashire Post previously reporting that Sheffield United, Coventry City and Turkish club Toztepe were eager to sign him on a free transfer.
The Blades will certainly be pushing for automatic promotion next season, so deciding to move to Sunderland may seem like an unexpected decision from the Republic of Ireland international.
Browne has now explained how Kristjaan Speakman and Regis Le Bris managed to tempt him to move up north.
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Browne’s ambitions and ideas match Le Bris’
Speaking to the club’s YouTube channel, Browne said: “I think it’s a good project. I think they’ve got a lot of young players and I think that’s where I can add a bit of value.
“I’ve played in the league a long time and I’ve got a lot of experience. But at the same time, I say they’re young, but they are quite experienced themselves… and obviously challenging for the playoffs a couple of years back.
“It’s a really talented squad and obviously the size of the club really appealed to me. It’s a massive, massive club, so that was a real standout for me as well.
He added: “I met the sporting director first and he was just telling me about the values of the club and the history of the club and what they’re ultimately trying to achieve and why they’re bringing me here. That’s obviously something I wanted to be a part of.
“Then I spoke to the manager afterwards who shared his ideas with me of how he likes to play and approach games and his different styles and tactics…so we talked through all that. It was something that I believed in myself, the way he wants to play. It’s just something I’m looking forward to now.”
The Sunderland boss has gotten off to a very promising start
Very little was known about Le Bris when he first arrived and many fans were sceptical after his recent relegation.
However, the strides he has made since stepping food on Wearside this month have been very promising.
It was only days after meeting the Frenchman that Chris Rigg decided he wanted to stay at Sunderland, having waited for a new manager to be appointed before making his decision.
Now, it appears that Le Bris has played a key part in persuading Browne to join the club rather than one of the favourites for promotion.
It will all come down to how he gets this team playing on the pitch, but there is plenty to be positive about.