Birmingham City winger Jay O'Shea this week became the eighth addition under Strachan's rein and the manager expects the recruitment drive will continue once the transfer window re-opens in June.
He warned Boro chief executive Keith Lamb to brace himself for a frenzied spell of trading no matter which division the club find themselves in next season.
Hartlepool-born left back Andrew Taylor has admitted that he could be part of a summer cull if Strachan continues to mould a squad populated by his own players.
Taylor insists he wants to stay at the club he joined as a schoolboy but accepts that if he is not part of the manager's long-term plans he may have to look elsewhere for a regular starting berth.
For the first time since I joined the club I am considering my options and one of them may mean I move on either on loan or a permanent basis, said the 23-year-old, who has struggled with ankle and hernia problems this season.
I'm at the stage of my career when, if I'm going to get to the level I want, then I've got to have a regular spot. If for whatever reason that's not at Middlesbrough then I will have to look elsewhere in the summer. Hopefully we can find out what the situation is and I can stay at Middlesbrough next year and beyond.
I'd like to stay. I'm comfortable here but in the end it's about playing games. I think you've got to have selfbelief.
I won't shout from the rooftops that I'm the best in the world and should be playing for England but I'm ambitious and want to play in the Premier League.
If that's with Middlesbrough then brilliant if not and I have to move elsewhere then I'm prepared to do that.'' Today's trip to Watford offers Boro an opportunity to continue their late bid to claim a play-off spot but anything less than victory would effectively end their slim chance of competing for a place in the top flight.
Strachan takes a depleted squad to Vicarage Road and his ongoing selection problems has exposed an alarming lack of depth in the squad that he intends to address this summer. But he was keen to reassure current members of the squad that his rebuilding plans would not necessarily signal the end of the road for many of them. He said: I think you play for your future every week, no matter where you are or what contract you are on.
I won't put a figure on how many players I want to bring in but it will be quite a few and that's not to worry players already here. It is simply the fact that we have such a small squad. We will have to wheel and deal because these days, this isn't a club that can just go out and take its pick on who it wants.
Every manager is looking to complete his jigsaw puzzle but you cannot complete it if you have a few pieces missing.
It's my job to go out and get those pieces.
How near am I to having the squad I want I am nowhere near where I want. I am always searching to improve.
I expect Keith Lamb to be very busy this summer.
The arrival of O'Shea, who is expected to be named in this afternoon's squad, was the manager's last opportunity to bolster his squad this season.
But Strachan remained optimistic despite Boro lying six points from sixth-placed Cardiff.
It is a wee bit brighter than it was last weekend because we have caught a couple of teams up with the points we have collected,'' he said. But the craziness is that the performances were better previously when we were only picking up draws.
I have always thought the team that can win five in a row at this stage of the season will make the play-offs and hopefully, we have got the first of those five.
Julio Arca and Gary O'Neil have recovered from the virus that's upset Strachan's preparations but the manager shrugged off suggestions it had caused major disruption.
I can handle it. It's a doddle compared to some of the jobs I have had. I've had more problems with blackheads he quipped.
Source: Northern Echo
Source: Northern Echo