Boro boss Tony Mowbray started to put his close-season plans into place yesterday by announcing the departures of Willo Flood, Maximilian Haas and Andrew Davies.
They followed confirmation on Monday that goalkeeper Paul Smith's loan from Nottingham Forest had ended, while Mikael Tavares' short-term move from Hamburg had also reached its conclusion.
The departures are unlikely to stop there, with Mowbray prepared to listen to offers for a number of his players, particularly his high earners, in the hope it will strengthen his own recruitment drive.
Middlesbrough are keen on keeping Julio Arca and have offered him a deal on reduced terms, with his existing contract due to expire at the end of next month.
But Mowbray is also weighing up a number of avenues to pursue when he is given the go-ahead to add to his squad in the hope it leads to promotion.
While he has his scouting network running the rule over a number of players, Mowbray is looking at United's young guns.
Twenty-year-old midfielder Oliver Norwood, who has spent time on loan at Carlisle this season, and 19-year-old striker Nicky Ajose, who has hit 13 goals in 28 appearances on loan at Bury this season, are under consideration.
Firstly, however, Mowbray knows he has to reduce the club's ?20m wage bill and he started that task this week when he informed Flood and Haas that their deals would not be renewed.
Flood's 18-months at the Riverside Stadium since moving from Celtic have been hampered by injuries and Mowbray accepts the player did not have a chance to shine under him.
Mowbray said: "Willo has been unfortunate in that he hasn't really had a chance to impress while I've been here. He has been very unlucky with injuries and his contract has come to an end just when we are looking to reduce costs.
"I'm aware that Willo started very well when he came here and I can see exactly what assets he brings to the team. I am looking to put my own stamp on the team and I need to create space in the squad to enable me to bring ion my own players."
Haas, on the other hand, has failed to have an impact since arriving from Bayern Munich's second team in January.
It was announced when the German defender signed that he had joined on an initial 18-month deal. However, it has emerged the final 12 months of that contract were subject to him proving himself on Teesside.
Mowbray said: "We did have an option to give Maxi a further year on his contract, but I have decided to let him move on. I wanted to give Maxi the opportunity to adapt from German football to the English game.
"The qualities that you get from spending several years with Bayern Munich were there for anyone to see, but ultimately I don't feel he has the right qualities to cope with the physical demands of the Championship."
Stockton-born defender Davies, meanwhile, has 12 months remaining on his contract at Stoke City, where he still earns Premier League wages.
If a deal for him is to take place this summer, then Davies, Stoke and Middlesbrough would have to come to some sort of agreement.
Source: Northern Echo
Source: Northern Echo