Jay Tabb looks set to become one of this summer’s first permanent additions to the squad with the Blues having offered the on-loan midfielder a contract, we understand. Recently manager Mick McCarthy said he had spoken to the 29-year-old and was keen to keep him at Portman Road.

Tabb, who has not been offered new terms by current club Reading, has made seven starts and one sub appearance and has scored one goal since joining the Blues on a temporary basis in March.

The former Coventry and Brentford man has previously said he has enjoyed his time at Town and that he would welcome a longer term move: “I don’t see why I wouldn’t stay here, it would have to take something special for me not to.”

With the season effectively over, the Blues boss seems likely to make public his decisions regarding the out of contract players and loanees in the next few days.

Lee Martin, Andy Drury, Arran Lee-Barrett and recent signing Jason Brown all have terms which are up in June, while Daryl Murphy, Guirane N’Daw, Richard Stearman, Reece Brown, Aaron Mclean and Patrick Kisnorbo are like Tabb on loan until the end of the season.

David McGoldrick is still at the club despite his 93-day loan being up and is set to sign a two-year deal on July 1st when Tabb would also be able to formally put pen to paper on a contract with the Blues, their terms elsewhere having come to an end.

Meanwhile, McCarthy confirmed at Saturday night’s Player Awards Evening that he would have left the club had the Blues dropped into League One: “The agreement was I’d stay if we stayed up, I’d go if we went down. Relegation would have been a disaster for this club and there would have been a whole host of changes.”

Had they been demoted Town would have looked for a manager whose wages would have been more in line with those of a club in League One, while it’s unlikely that McCarthy would have wanted to manage at that level.

Photo: Action Images

FenboyBlue added 16:45 - Apr 29 Excellent. We need a few players with experience of being in a promotion winning side. It's been about a decade since we were top 6 regulars. Time for our young squad to get acquainted with it for the first time!
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JWM added 16:51 - Apr 29 Earl60 the great about Hyam is that he is nowhere near his full peak and potential. He is playing like a seasoned professional and he will only get better and better. Drury has reached his peak and although he is a tidy player that's all you can really say about him. With Tabb joining us there is no future for Drury here at Ipswich.
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hollywoodginge added 16:58 - Apr 29 I find it quite unbelievable that people think Tabb is being brought in to replace Lee Martin, completely different type of player. Like comparing oranges with apples.
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jas0999 added 17:24 - Apr 29 Tabb would be a decent signing. Agree with others as well ... Stearman is a must. Murphy, well that will depend upon his wage demands. I think Martin and Drury will leave. Football is a very interesting thing - so many opinions - some fans like a player; others don't. For me, you can't fault either Drury or Martin's work rate or effort. But in my opinion, we can do better and think moving forward, it's time for both to leave. If they do leave, I wish them well.

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bluefeast added 17:26 - Apr 29 Earl60 ,Hyam is one of the reasons for the strong defence. ie he closes the ball quickly and allows our defence more time for positional play. Messi he is not ,but a wonderful cog in our much improved wheel.
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Wickets added 17:58 - Apr 29 hollywoo ect differant type of player yes but same postition usually,on sat Tabb did his job great up and down the pitch for 80 mins supporting the attack and then back helping Cressy. Martin was on pitch 10 mins got booked gave away a needless free kick on edge of our box failed to support Cressy for the Birmingham goal. MM in after match comments refered to poor goal to give away player not doing his jobs!! wonder who he ment!!

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meekreech added 18:03 - Apr 29 Hollywoodginge Yes they are different types of player as you say but Martin is the type of player we do not need . He is all run around and achieve nothing ( except maybe a rash tackle and red card ! ) end product is missing ! Tabb is a far better player as he gives an end product and fits better with Cressie down the left !
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Lennyboy added 18:18 - Apr 29 I agree with Wickets, Martin was awful Saturday and is a liability when he is on the pitch and has to go; not polished enough for first class football. Tabb on the other hand is ideal and does not give up on a ball. Those to go are those brought on Saturday as our whole shape changed and not for the better. Of the loanees I would like to keep Murph, N'Daw, Tabb, Stearman. Drury also has to go, tries his best but not good enough.

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lonelyblue added 18:30 - Apr 29 Not sure why Wolves players should command high fees and wages if they get relegated. I know they've had a lot of problems at that club, but if they're such class.... Could certainly do without Doyle who looks a nice player but doesn't score enough goals. We've got one of those waiting to sign a contract with us, who I'd expect will be cheaper, and has mostly worked hard to improve his game this season.

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lonelyblue added 18:34 - Apr 29 Ah. I forgot to notice that there was a page 2 to this story's comments and was rather commenting there on some earlier discourse about SEB etc. Anyway, Tabb and Stearman have both been excellent and it would be great to sign them.
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SanDiego added 18:42 - Apr 29 Martin and Drury can leave. N'daw I'm too fussed about. Hyam will add attacking to his game over the summer. Would like Stearman if the deal was right but we have Hewitt waiting in the wings so no big disaster if it can't be done. Murphy decent enough up front but I think we should work on a regular front pairing of Nouble and McG. Doyle is not needed either.
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RetroBlue added 19:27 - Apr 29 Every team needs the player that wins the ball and does the simple bread and butter stuff consistently, and usually all in the background. Without this type of player , the team doesnt function as well. Brian Talbot was this type of player - which wasnt lost on Arsenal who later signed him from us....and Hyam is now a similar type of player. There will be Clubs eventually coming after him, mark my words !

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dizbon added 19:50 - Apr 29 don't forget taylor is waiting court appearance. could be prison sentence. not struck on murpy as I think he is a lazy player. won't chase the ball
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TimmyH added 20:04 - Apr 29 Good news...certainly a competitor in midfield. Stearman or McGoldrick next please!
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8ashblue added 20:31 - Apr 29 Tabb would be good signing as would Stearman. Drury for me doesnt cut it at this level, he does play ok at times but brings nothing more. I dont understand negative comments on Hyam as he just gets better and ha sbeen key player since MM took over. I think we could do bette rthat Ndaw and i expect him to want mor ethan we can afford. If Murphy wants to stay then i see MM keeping him. Martin is a liability so his departure will allow MM to sign lefty with more to offer.

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blueherts added 21:40 - Apr 29 Yes - I was not sure what deal with Taylor is/was - I presume we have to await court hearing - Mick will have his own players and positions and the ones he has added - McGoldrick , Stears , Tabb have been good Hyam has great potential and is already realising some of it and under MM and TC is adding attacking runs to his game - Top player who will get better Martin and Drury - done your time now and thanks Wouldnt mind Doyle from Wolves

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iTFC4LiFE99 added 22:22 - Apr 29 10x the player Martin is! Same worth ethic but tabb's is more effective! Probably offers more going forward to, also can play in the centre, good to have versatile players in the squad. Will be a great addition if this goes through COYB!
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hossblue added 22:38 - Apr 29 I would like Stearman to sign but fear that it will stop the progress of Hewitt who i thought had a great home debut
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hogster1970 added 22:54 - Apr 29 well agree i think tab will be good although not a out and out winger, not fussed if ndaw stays as doesnt realy do alot with the ball once he has won it, hyam will only get better , stearman to me is great at defensive work but on a attacking front doesnt seem to offer what hewit can and hewit is as good defensivly as stearman in my view, how ever stearman can cover center half as well so could be a good addition, but lets face it defensivly we are sorted its the creativity we lack, so hewit gets my thumbs up, but we will see, martin can go as previously said, but like most i cant wait for the next season to start and think we should touch wood do well, but lets not forget teams my come in for some of our back four though, but lets hope not, as for years our defence has been poor but know looks good

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Tractorog added 23:37 - Apr 29 Drury is a good honest pro who will not want to sit on the bench. My guess is he will want to leave, but that MM would be happy to keep him as a squad player, but without regular games Drury will go. I think NDaw will leave because his wages are too high. A bit unfair to pick on Martin's Birmingham display given it was his return from injury and a long lay off. His disciplinary records is not as bad as many on here would make out. He has in the past shown an ability to improve - but he is not as good as he thinks he is & I don't think he will be kept on. I think Mick needs to free some wages. I think we'd all have Stearman at the top of our shopping list. I wonder if the lure of working with Mick will be enough. Let's hope so.

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Alwaysablue added 01:32 - Apr 30 Dizbon I'm struggling to understand how Murphy is 'lazy' his work rate is one of his better assests, if any of our strikers are lazy it would be Chopra
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DiamondGezzer added 07:55 - Apr 30 Whom ever we sign, wouldn't it be lovely not to have a 24hr recall looming over our heads ? Those who are suggesting Hewitt over Stearman, surely for the strength of the team it would be better to have two good players, one as back-up to the other in a case of injury ?
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Stato added 09:27 - Apr 30 We have a team/squad that is 4th during the period that Mick has been here so I don't think we need too many additions. Forwards are the last place we need to add and certainly not Doyle who has lost his way. I agree with most others In: Tabb, N'Daw, Stearman, Out: Martin, Chopra, Drury. Not sure: Murphy ? Ksnorbo ? Mings, Hewitt and Marriott are all likely to be involved in the pre-season fixtures as will Taylor (assuming legal stuff goes ok) so just leaves us looking for 1/2 creative players in midfield ? I'd also bring back Henderson with Loach as back up.

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mannos6 added 10:13 - Apr 30 If Bradford don't progress through playoffs would like to see nahki wells bit of pace not afraid to go by anybody young age and a eye for goal. Not had a forward like that since David "johno" Johnson down here.. Correct me if I'm wrong.
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theobald1985 added 10:42 - Apr 30 iTFC4LiFE99 10 x the player martin is. get a grip please. we have been in play off form since mick been here and martin has played in the majority of those games and mick usually plays when fit. his support for cresswell has been excellent cresswell praised him himself. i dont think he is being played in his best position but always puts a shift in. unfortunately he is the victim of irrational hatred from a minority of 'fans' there always has to be one for them to pick on but those players like leadbitter and delaney seem to move on to bigger and better things. we need stability next season not another summer of changes.

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