there's no chance of bringing in any free agents as EFL rules explained

There are a couple of viable options such as Craig Dawson and Kortney Hause who would be available to sign on a free, but league rules won't permit Boro to sign one right now.

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Following the summer transfer window, Boro registered the maximum of 25 players with the EFL, filling out their Championship squad. Outside of transfer windows, rules don’t permit clubs to make changes to their registration list unless it's “truly exceptional circumstances’, of which, injuries would not suffice.