Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson is working with two of the game's biggest powerbrokers to rebuild the Championship club.
Gibson has confirmed that he is working closely with former Manchester United and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon and leading agent Jorge Mendes.
Both Kenyon and Mendes played a major role in the appointment of Boro's new manager Aitor Karanka, as well as a recent link-up with La Liga giants Atletico Madrid.
"I've known Peter for almost 20 years," Gibson said. "He was very successful at Manchester United and at Chelsea.
"I felt that I wasn't perhaps being challenged enough within the club.
"I wanted an outsider's view to come in and have a look and tell us where he thought we needed improving, and he's been a great asset in that capacity.
"His contact book is like no other and everyone in football takes Peter Kenyon's call.
"Through Peter we've been able to set up an excellent relationship with Atletico Madrid and we've been able to get a route to perhaps the most powerful football agent in the world in Jorge Mendes.
"Peter's been proactive in doing that and has worked very hard for the club in the last few months and he's built up a lot of air miles."
