Town have confirmed the signing of Manchester United midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe on loan until January. TWTD revealed that the 20-year-old was close to joining the Blues yesterday and that he was at the club today to finalise his switch earlier this afternoon.
Tunnicliffe, Mick McCarthy’s 10th signing of the summer, trained with his new team-mates this morning and is set to be involved in the final friendly of pre-season at Notts County on Saturday (KO 3pm).
The midfielder, a member of the Red Devils' 2011 FA Youth Cup-winning side, says he is pleased to have joined the Blues, tweeting: "Delighted to have signed for Ipswich on loan."
He told the club site that Town boss Mick McCarthy was one of the main reasons he decided to join the Blues: "Ipswich is a big club but the deciding factor was the chance to work with Mick McCarthy.
"He has managed at international level and worked in the Premier League for a number of years.
"My reserve team boss Warren Joyce knows Mick well and he said he is straight down the line and good to play for.
"I’m looking forward to it. The reserves at United is a good level but I need to be playing games where there are three points at stake.
"David Moyes is happy for me to go out on loan and I know they will be watching how I do down here.”
Tunnicliffe, who has two years left on his contract at Old Trafford, would be up for sticking around beyond the initial half-season loan if all goes well: "If I’m playing here then I can’t see why I wouldn’t want to stay.
"I’ve got to get in the team first though and perform well. There’s a good squad here and I’ve got a fight for my place.”
Brighton were amongst a number of other Championship clubs also believed to be eyeing the England U16 and U17 international, who spent time on loan at Peterborough United during 2011/12 and at Barnsley last season.
Heywood-born Tunnicliffe plays in central midfield, an area where the Blues appeared to require further cover.
Speaking on Tuesday, Mick McCarthy said he was looking to add only one more player to his squad ahead of the start of the season at Reading a week on Saturday.
Tunnicliffe has made two sub appearances in the Capital One Cup for the Red Devils, in addition to 15 senior starts and 18 games from the bench for his loan sides.
He played for United’s reserves in their 1-0 friendly victory over Club Brugge last week, a game which was watched by the Town manager.
Photo: ITFC