ROMANIA midfielder Laurentiu Rosu has pleaded with Middlesbrough to make his Premiership dreams come true.

The 26-year-old is desperate to quit Spanish side Numancia following their relegation from the Primera Liga, and Boro are understood to be weighing up a £2.5m bid.

Attack-minded Rosu, who operates wide on the left, moved from Steaua Bucharest for £1.2m last summer after Euro 2000 duty.

But he endured a frustrating season in Spain, during which he failed to hold down a regular place despite marking his first start for Numancia with a hat-trick in a shock 3-1 victory over then-European champions Real Madrid.

He admitted: "After a disappointing season, to play for Middlesbrough seems like a dream to me.

"I would love to go to the Premier League. I am confident I can do my best in one of the strongest competitions on the Continent. I hope it soon becomes a reality. I don't understand why Numancia sacrificed me almost all the time. I love to play and to help my team, but sitting on the bench is sad and I have to think about moving in such a situation.''

Rosu signed for Steaua eight years ago and figured in five Romanian championship wins and three cup triumphs. In his final season there he scored 12 goals in 26 games. But after his devastating opening salvo for Numancia, he managed only two more goals as his appearances dried up.

Aston Villa first team coach Steve Harrison and goalkeeping coach Paul Barron have been cleared to join Middlesbrough after the clubs agreed a compensation package. Harrison has joined Barron in handing in his resignation to Villa and the duo will link up with new Boro manager Steve McClaren on lucrative double-your-money long term contracts.

The pair were on six-month rolling contract deals with Villa whose manager John Gregory confirmed: ''It has all been settled and they won't be coming back.''

* Italian side Brescia have again been linked with a move for Boro skipper Paul Ince.

The 33-year-old former England midfielder is waiting to see whether he has a role to play under new Boro boss Steve McClaren.

Ince spent two years in Italy with Inter Milan before joining Liverpool in 1997.

* Tottenham boss Glenn Hoddle is closing in on an £11m double deal for Aston Villa's £6m-rated England centre-half Gareth Southgate, and Liverpool's former Boro wing-back Christian Ziege.