Ipswich Town to offer Reading's Jay Tabb a contract

Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy will offer a deal to Reading midfielder Jay Tabb at the end of the season.

The 29-year-old, on loan at Ipswich from the Royals, is out of contract in the summer.

McCarthy told BBC Radio Suffolk: "I know he's on a free and I'd like to sign him. I told him that. He's really added something to us."

Tabb, who scored his first goal for Town at the weekend, said he would be "very happy" to join the club.

The former Coventry and Brentford man opened the scoring in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday and has now made seven appearances for the Portman Road side.

Reading have replaced manager Brian McDermott with Nigel Adkins since Tabb joined Ipswich, but he still expects to end his association with the Premier League's bottom club.

"I've had four and a half good years at Reading but sometimes a change is a good thing," he said.

"I'm 29 now, I've got a few good years left in me and when I look at what I want to achieve in the rest of my career - I want to get back into the Premier League.

"When you look at the Ipswich manager's track record, this is a good place to try and do that.

"I'll assess the situation in the summer. this is a great club and I'd like to think I can end up here. If I'm an Ipswich player next season I'll be very happy.

"If I'm offered a contract I don't see why I wouldn't stay, it would have to take something pretty special for me to not be."