TONY MOWBRAY last night warned clubs interested in buying some of his most promising talents that Middlesbrough do not have to cash in to ease their financial situation.

Boro chairman Steve Gibson wants Mowbray to trim the playing staff's £24m wage bill by more than half before the start of next season.

But, while the Middlesbrough boss has admitted the next few months could see considerable change at the Riverside Stadium, he insists Gibson has told him he does not have to offload his prize assets.

While high-earners like Kris Boyd, Scott McDonald, Justin Hoyte and Didier Digard are among those that would be moved on if the right offer comes along, Mowbray is adamant he does not have to sell his younger players.

Joe Bennett and Rhys Williams are the two players currently attracting the most attention from the Premier League, while Matthew Bates and Jason Steele have been watched closely from top-flight clubs.

But Mowbray, keen to keep a group of players capable of clinching promotion next season, has been given assurances that he does not have to sell certain individuals.

"We have to reduce our wage bill quite considerably. How we do that? We will wait and see," said Mowbray.

"In my mind and the chairman's mind we have players we will not be selling, but they will probably be the ones who we get the phone calls for. I am under no pressure to sell.

"There are other players we might have to listen to offers for even though they have done well for us.

"The message to supporters would be that there are certain players at our club we don't have to sell. If we do sell someone I will explain to supporters the reason why."

Mowbray claimed Gibson is also keen to see him keep the core of a good squad, while hoping there are a number of Academy produced players in the manager's squad.

"The chairman is a supporter of the club as well and we need to have a good team on the pitch to be successful.

"If we are going to push on and get back to where we all want to be then we still need a good squad.

"The chairman likes to see players come through the system here, who have an affinity with the town and the club. There are certain players who I think he would be more reluctant to accept bids on than others."

Mowbray has already told striker Lee Miller, who has returned from a loan at Scunthorpe, he has no future at the Riverside, while he hopes to agree contracts with Andrew Taylor and Julio Arca.

But, with the exception of young striker Curtis Main who signed following his release from Darlington this week, it will not be until players are moved on that he can start to bring new faces in.

Mowbray and his scouting team are continuing to monitor the European market, where he is confident he could find a couple of hidden gems despite admitting his January acquisition of Maxi Haas did not go to plan.

"We have been looking at the foreign market," said Mowbray, who decided not take up the option on Bayern Munich reserve defender.

"Maxi Haas was brought in when we had no centre-halves, he didn't cost us any money, so it hasn't put us off.

"He arrived at the right time but then we had players back and his chance didn't come."

* Boro will play Carlisle United in a friendly at Brunton Park on Tuesday, July 26. It is the second game Mowbray has announced for the summer, with a date at Darlington penciled in for Saturday, July 23.