Jay Tabb has held talks with Blues boss Mick McCarthy over his Portman Road future, and revealed both parties want to make a permanent switch become reality.

The 29-year-old, who scored Town’s goal in the 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, is out-of-contract with Premier League club Reading in the summer and wants to leave the Berkshire side.

Reading will be relegated tonight, should Aston Villa win at Manchester United, and new manager Nigel Adkins is keeping an eye on Tabb’s progress at Ipswich.

However, after four-and-a-half years at Reading, the midfielder insists the time is right to move on has targeted a Premier League push with McCarthy’s side.

“Nigel Adkins has spoken to me and Reading are watching me, but as far as I am concerned, now is the time to move on,” said the former Coventry and Brentford man.

“I have enjoyed it at Reading but I want a fresh challenge and Ipswich is a club that I would like to play for.

“The manager (McCarthy) mentioned to me about a month ago that he would like to keep me on a permanent deal and hopefully that is still the case.

“We want to finish this season off first, as mathematically we are not safe yet, and I think next year we can push on. A lot of people have said that.

“I would love to stay and earn a permanent deal but as a professional, you have to keep your options open as well.

“I am 29 and I have got to look at what I would like to achieve in the rest of my career. I want to get back in the Premiership and I think this is a good club to do that with.”

Meanwhile, fellow loanee Richard Stearman sustained a Grade Three hamstring injury in the weekend’s draw at Hillsborough and could miss the rest of the season.

The Wolves defender is set to return to Molineux at the end of the campaign, but his Portman Road exit may come sooner than he expected.

“I don’t think we’ll be seeing him (Stearman) again this season,” said McCarthy, who will learn more about the defender’s injury today.