MIDDLESBROUGH’S threadbare squad is expected to become even smaller after Emanuel Pogatetz and Didier Digard both edged towards the exit door at the Riverside.

Greek side Panathinaikos will make a 1.5m Euros offer for Pogatetz before the end of the week, while French club Nice are close to completing a loan deal for Digard that will turn into a permanent transfer at the end of the season.

The duo’s departure would increase the need for Middlesbrough manager Gordon Strachan to make signings of his own this month, but the Scotsman’s plans have been hampered by the bad weather.

Boro chief executive Keith Lamb was forced to call off a planned meeting with Celtic officials late on Tuesday night, and Strachan is still no nearer to landing a list of targets that includes Bhoys duo Gary Caldwell and Barry Robson as well as Rangers striker Kris Boyd.

His pursuit of Caldwell in particular will become more pressing if Pogatetz leaves for Athens.

Panathinaikos president Nikos Pateras is due to meet with his club’s sporting director, Kostas Antoniou, and manager, Nikos Nioplias, today to discuss transfer targets, and a formal 1.5m Euros offer for Pogatetz is expected to follow.

Having failed to lure Italy international Marco Materazzi to the Olympic Stadium, Nioplias is desperate to reinforce his side’s defence.

Pogatetz, who is out of contract in the summer, is known to be aware of Panathinaikos’ interest, and as the Austrian is about to enter the final six months of his deal, he would not need Middlesbrough’s permission to hold talks.

Sources in Athens claim Panathinaikos are willing to pay the defender around 850,000 Euros-a-year, tax free, which would be broadly comparable to his current deal at the Riverside.

Strachan is understood to be reluctant to lose Pogatetz, but Boro chairman Steve Gibson may regard almost £1.5m as too good a price to turn down for a player who is free to leave Teesside for nothing in the summer.

Gibson will also be keen to remove Digard’s wages from the books, as the Frenchman has made just three substitute appearances since Strachan replaced Gareth Southgate in mid-October.

Nice officials have made inquiries about Digard’s position, and the Ligue One outfit are confident of completing a loan deal that will turn into a permanent transfer at the end of the season.

Nice coach Didier Olle- Nicolle is hoping to sign a defender and a midfielder this month, and is targeting Digard and San Lorenzo centrehalf Renato Civelli.

“We must recruit two players, a central defender and a midfielder, and we are working on that now,” said Olle- Nicolle. “Two of those are Didier Digard and Renato Civelli. There are others too, but we hope to do these shortly.

“This could be done this week. Digard is expensive, but it could be done and we are discussing it. No matter what happens, I think they would be two loans with an option to purchase.”

Digard has made just 19 league starts since joining Boro in a £4m move from Paris St Germain in July 2008.

His departure would leave a gap in midfield, and Strachan is hoping to plug it with the capture of Celtic ball-winner Robson.

However, Boro’s attempts to talk terms with Celtic officials were dashed on Tuesday night when the snowy weather scuppered a proposed meeting at Gretna Green.

Lamb has spoken to Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell regarding Strachan’s interest in both Robson and Caldwell, but they were unable to broker a deal. As a result, it is unlikely Boro will have any new additions ahead of Saturday’s game with Swansea City.