MIDFIELDER Robbie Mustoe is listening to offers as his contract stalemate drags on at Middlesbrough.

Mustoe, whose current deal runs out this summer, has been offered another year with Steve McClaren's side.

But Northern Echo Sport can reveal that the 33-year-old mainstay, Boro's longest-serving player after almost 12 years on Teesside, is attracting interest from a First Division club.

A source close to Mustoe confirmed: "Robbie is listening to other offers. He has been offered a one-year deal by Boro but, ideally, would have preferred two years.

"He was prepared to sign for one-and-a-half years in February, but that wasn't available.

"He is considering another year with Boro, but the situation has enabled him to look at other options and there is quite strong interest from a First Division club.'

Mustoe himself said: "All I can say is that I've got an offer from Middlesbrough for another year and I need to make my mind up in the next week or ten days before I go on holiday. I think things will be resolved by then.''

Mustoe, a virtual ever-present in McClaren's first season in charge, has proved a pivotal figure in midfield alongside skipper Paul Ince, who is also out of contract this summer.

In Ince's absence through suspension in the FA Cup semi-final defeat by Arsenal at Old Trafford last month, Mustoe produced arguably his best Boro performance and won rave reviews for a tireless display.

Signed from home-town club Oxford United for £375,000 in the summer of 1990, Mustoe has made over 450 appearances for Boro and his loyal service was rewarded with a testimonial match against Borussia Dortmund in August 2000.

The future of Ince, meanwhile, is far from certain, with Everton and Manchester City understood to be keeping a close eye on developments surrounding the 34-year-old former Liverpool and England star, who still lives on Merseyside.

* Boro yesterday announced that they have frozen season ticket prices for a third successive year.

And they have promised fans a more equitable pricing policy for cup-ties after the massive snub delivered to last season's FA Cup fourth-round triumph over Manchester United, when only 17,624 turned up at the Riverside.

An initiative to attract younger fans has also been launched with the introduction of a new concession for those aged nine and under, which works out at less than £5 a match.

Renewal forms are being mailed to the existing 22,000 season ticket holders, and Boro are writing to another 8,000 supporters - many of them former season ticket holders - with ticket details.

Supporters have until Saturday, July 6 to renew. After that prices will increase by up to £40.

Boro chief executive Keith Lamb said: "Most of our season tickets are frozen at 2000 prices, with many considerably cheaper as a result of the new and innovative concessions we have introduced last season and this.

"For the first time we are introducing a special concession ticket for children aged nine or under in the same areas of the stadium as the concession for 16 to 21-year-olds that was introduced last season.

"This will be a significant benefit to family groups and means children aged up to nine can now watch all of our Premiership home fixtures for only £99.

"This new concession adds to our belief that Middlesbrough is the region's most inclusive club.

"Last season we also became the first club in the North-East to offer concessions for those aged under-16 and over-65 in all areas of the stadium."

Season tickets purchased on or before Saturday, July 6 are priced between £313 and £470 for adults. After this they will increase to between £342 and £510.

Concessions for under-16s and over-65s range from £186 before July 6. After that they are priced from £205.50.

* Boro boss Steve McClaren has ruled out any chance of Benito Carbone's move to the Riverside being revived.

Bradford City, who went into administration this week with debts of £13m, could tear up the Italian's £40,000-a-week contract, which still has two years to run, in a desperate attempt to ease their plight.

Carbone was bitterly disappointed when he failed to agree terms with Boro, who pulled the plug on a permanent move after the maverick frontman had made a major impact during a three-month loan deal.

But McClaren said: "The decision has been made and that's it.'

Read more about Middlesbrough here.