Boro's team-building plans could receive a major boost next month when Croatia joins the EU, enabling Tony Mowbray to pursue two potential signings.

The club have been building close ties with contacts in Croatia, including former striker Alen Boksic, and the country is set to become a fully fledged member of the European Union on July 1.

Boro, naturally, have been keeping their links with the Balkan country low key, but are hopeful the relationship will prove fruitful over the coming years.

It’s all part of the club’s Europe-wide scouting network that’s been carefully built up by Mowbray with the crucial support of Steve Gibson.

The identity of the targets Boro have identified has so far been a closely guarded secret, though the Gazette understands they are young, talented, creative players who have represented Croatia at youth and under-21 levels and are seen as potential senior internationals.

Under employment law, English clubs can’t currently sign non-internationals from outside the EU, apart from rare exceptions.

That embargo currently applies to Boro’s Croatian targets but the country’s entry to the EU next month opens up that market.

Boksic is the assistant manager of the Croatian national team and has strong links with Hajduk Split. He visited Boro in April and watched the home defeat to Brighton from the directors’ box.

With the club’s wage bill having to be reduced to fall in line with Financial Fair Play, Boro are having to explore new markets in a bid to sign quality players on reduced affordable salaries. It’s an issue Mowbray touched on late last season.

He said: “How will we get better with a further (budget) reduction? I’ve had conversations with the chairman along the lines of how are we going to get a team together to compete and get out of this league?

“Hopefully we have found some solutions and will find more of those in the summer.”

Boro have been linked with 31-year-old former Sunderland midfielder Dean Whitehead, who has been released by Stoke City.