IPSWICH Town have missed out on bringing back Mauricio Taricco after he signed for West Ham on free transfer from Spurs, writes Derek Davis.The Argentinian defender has joined the Blues' Championship rivals for the rest of the campaign, with an option to sign for next season, and goes straight into the squad for Sunday's London derby at Millwall.

IPSWICH Town have missed out on bringing back Mauricio Taricco after he signed for West Ham on free transfer from Spurs, writes Derek Davis.

The Argentinian defender has joined the Blues' Championship rivals for the rest of the campaign, with an option to sign for next season, and goes straight into the squad for Sunday's London derby at Millwall.

Town were looking at bringing him back to Portman Road, but only for a loan period as they were unable to pay all his wages.

Taricco said: "There were only a couple of clubs that I could have gone to.

"I had a great time at Ipswich and it was an option.

"But West Ham is a big club, and I think there is a squad here that can get promoted and it would be nice to achieve that.

"I didn't manage to get promoted with Ipswich, and I would like to do that with West Ham."

Blues boss Joe Royle was at the reserves' game on Monday when Taricco told the EADT he would welcome a move back to Ipswich. Hammers boss Alan Pardew was also watching the match and made his move the next day.

Pardew said: "Mauricio Taricco is a proper West Ham player. He has some grit, he is a winner and he is a player I have been after for a while.

"He will also offer us potency from set plays, which is one of the areas from which we are trying to score more goals.

"I have seen him a few times for Spurs reserves this season, and he has good fitness levels. I think he is a player the West Ham fans will appreciate."

Taricco joined Spurs from Ipswich in 1998 and was one game short of 150 appearances for the London side. But he has not made a single appearance this term under first Jacques Santini and then Martin Jol.

He said: "I knew that there wasn't a way back for me at Spurs. It has been a hard few months for me there, and I needed a change.

"I have to thank West Ham for extending their hand to me and for giving me this chance.

"Now it's up to me to do my best and to repay them."

Pardew is also confident of completing a month-long loan deal for Crystal Palace defender Darren Powell, another reported Town target, before the Millwall game.