Stoke City and Middlesbrough are absolutely flying in the Championship right now, and the key to their recent success is more obvious than some people may realise.

Stoke and Middlesbrough both look like real top-eight contenders at this stage, as the Potters make it just one loss in their last 11 league games following victory at Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night, whilst Boro retain their place at the top of the table.

Both underwent badge changes over the summer, and both are in scintillating form right now, though those aren't the only similarities between the two clubs.

Stoke City completed the signings of American duo Jack McGlynn and Luca Bombino in the summer

Stoke underwent another busy summer window, as the likes of Sorba Thomas, Lewis Baker, Steven Nzonzi, and Tatsuki Seko left the club, whilst Ethan Galbraith, Djibril Soumare, Luca Bombino, and Jack McGlynn were just a handful of arrivals.

Bombino, 20, arrived from Californian-based outfit San Diego FC for around $5 million (£3.7 million) to provide competition in both wing-back positions, whilst McGlynn, 23, joined in a deal worth around $5.5 million (£4.1 million), including add-ons, from MLS outfit Houston Dynamo to add another option in attacking midfield.

Both arrived late in the window, with little known about them to Stoke fans, as it now looks as though the Potters have taken a trick out of Middlesbrough's book to great effect.

Sebastian Berhalter, Max Arfsten, and Rokas Pukstas joined Aidan Morris at Middlesbrough in the recent transfer window

Middlesbrough endured, on paper, one of the best summer transfer windows the Championship has ever seen, with each of Hayden Hackney, Abdoulaye Kante, and Morgan Whittaker departing, as well as the sell-on clause for Morgan Rogers' move from Aston Villa to Chelsea; Boro raked in around £40 million from player sales.

With that money, each of Will Lankshear, Kyle Joseph, Radek Vitek, Ashley Phillips, Sebastian Berhalter, Rokas Pukstas, and Max Arfsten arrived at the Riverside, many for potentially lucrative deals, though Kim Hellberg's side remains in the green despite this outlay.

Berhalter joined from Vancouver Whitecaps for around $1.5 million (£1 million), Pukstas from Hajduk Split for around £4.3 million, and Arfsten from Columbus Crew for around $7.5 million (£5.6 million), with each joining compatriot Aidan Morris on Teesside.

Now, a few months into the campaign, the Americans at Middlesbrough and Stoke are showing exactly why they are an untapped and underrated market right now.

Stoke City and Middlesbrough have hit the jackpot by taking advantage of the American market

McGlynn and Bombino have been regulars in the Stoke side since arriving in ST4, with Bombino rotating with Eric Bocat, Ben Johnson, and Junior Tchamadeu at wing-back, whilst McGlynn has nailed down a spot as one of the attacking midfielders in the Potters' starting XI, with four goals and two assists in ten Championship games so far.

McGlynn appears to be having his own Goal of the Season competition at the moment, with excellent strikes against Watford, Sheffield United, Preston North End, and most recently Blackburn Rovers, and looks to be a real star at this level.

With McGlynn and Bombino shining at Stoke, Berhalter, in particular, is having a real impact at Middlesbrough right now, playing alongside compatriot Morris in the middle of the park, with three goals and two assists in 13 league games thus far.

Arfsten and Pukstas haven't been as fortunate with minutes at this stage, but there is every chance they come good and have the desired impact in due course, as Boro led Stoke down the American market, and both teams are reaping the rewards right now.

What do you make of Middlesbrough and Stoke exploring the American market? Is this something teams in the EFL ought to be doing more? Share your thoughts below!

Other EFL clubs must follow Stoke City and Middlesbrough's transfer methods after American success

With Middlesbrough and Stoke already seeing their investment in the American market pay dividends, it wouldn't be surprising if more clubs around the EFL began to follow suit.

The MLS has developed some gems over the years that have gone on to forge excellent careers across Europe, and for relatively cheap a lot of the time, there are a lot of potential diamonds ready to test themselves across the pond.

Middlesbrough led the way; Stoke have followed, both are reaping the rewards, and sooner or later, the American market will become a conveyor belt for players heading to Europe.