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

MathieandMarshall added 12:27 - Apr 30 lets be honest here. Martin is not a terrible player! there was a spell when he was playing through the middle that he looked quite effective. However... Mick is not going to play the system to allow him to play that role and he seems lost out wide. He is one of the high earners in our squad and despite all the huff and puff doesnt really create a great deal. That is the reason he is likely to move on. Agree with theobald1985 - we need to stop this witch hunt every season! support who is wearing the shirt.

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itfc_nik added 16:56 - Apr 30 If Brighton don't go up, I would love to see us go after Will Buckley, just the type of player we need out wide.
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harlingblue added 22:11 - May 1 Tabb has done more in the time that he has been here than Martin has done for his entire time at ITFC IMHO. A real player that pass and moves and gives Cresswell the chance to get forward and hit wicked crosses into the box. NDaw now looks to being playing his last game for us on Saturday, he has been a good addition, big, powerfull prescence...could McGoldrick play alongside Hyam in midfield with Nudold and Muphey as strikers?

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ntoms97 added 15:16 - May 2 I know this is gonna break a record of most disagrees but I like Lee Martin ok he is not good this season but he's added entertainment over his stay, what we need is someone who can make chances and Lee Martin is that player (OK it hasn't been proved this season but still) I'd keep him. Tabb defo keep. McGoldrick defo keep. DM maybe Guirane he's good but trouble Stearman definitely I've got to be honest I'm not an AL-B fan so I would look elsewhere for a backup GK Kisnorbo go Drury is a bit too old and not extremely experienced so release McLean Give him a chance but loan him out Brown hasn't had a game really so I'd buy him but loan him out Portsmouth or Wolves could do with him But yeah: GIVE LEE A BREAK AND A CHANCE

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