New Town loan signing David Healy says a reunion with manager Roy Keane was central to his decision to join the Blues. Premier League Portsmouth and a number of other Championship sides are also reported to have been chasing the Northern Ireland international.
Healy said: "I talked to Roy Keane and he made it clear that he wanted me at Ipswich which was nice to hear.
"I know Roy from when I was at Manchester United and he signed me for Sunderland, so to move for me again shows he rates me as a player and as a person.
"I'm relishing playing for Roy again. It is a massive challenge for me and my aim is to help Ipswich pick up as many points as possible between now and the end of the season."
The striker says he has not been enjoying life at Sunderland: "It has been the most frustrating season that I can remember in my career but hopefully with this move to Ipswich Town I will start to feel like a footballer again.
"I haven’t been enjoying sitting on the bench every Saturday and not playing. It has been really tough to take and has got me down on occasions. That’s why I am so delighted to be given this opportunity and I intend to take it.
"I want to get back to playing on a regular basis and I want to start scoring goals again as well as enjoy my football.
"This is a new challenge for me, playing for a club and fans with great respect throughout Britain, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Healy, who will be with the Blues for the rest of the season, is contracted to Sunderland until 2011, having joined the Black Cats from Fulham for £1.2 million in the summer of 2008.