IPSWICH Town are chasing Reading striker Noel Hunt - just days after nabbing ex-Royals skipper Ivar Ingimarsson.

Tractor Boys boss Paul Jewell has landed Ingimarsson on a one-year deal after the 33-year-old fans' favourite was recently released by Reading.

Now Jewell wants Hunt to join Ingimarsson at Portman Road next season to boost their hopes of promotion.

Reports suggest the former Wigan and Bradford boss has already tabled a seven-figure bid for the Irisman.

Hunt, 27, has two more years to run on his current contract and Royals would be reluctant to sell, unless Ipswich make an offer too good to refuse.

Portsmouth have also been linked with the versatile forward who scored 10 goals last season and cost Reading £600,000 from Dundee United in July 2008.

Whether Hunt leaves remains to be seen , but Ipswich this week confirmed the capture of Ingimarsson who made 282 appearances for Royals over an eight year period.

Jewell said: "I had a chat with Ivar while we were both in Spain and it's all sorted out, he will be with us for the first day of pre-season. He's an experienced player who knows what the Championship is all about.

"When I look back at my time at Bradford and Wigan, I had players there like Jason De Vos, Arjan De Zeeuw and Matt Jackson. They were older heads, not the quickest players maybe but an integral part of the team.

"Ivar knows what this league is all about. He knows what it takes to be successful and I'm delighted that he will be with us next season."

Last week Royals moved quickly to fend off interest from rival clubs by offering their most wanted players new deals.

Skipper Matt Mills, sought-after striker Shane Long and wing duo Jimmy Kebe and Jobi McAnuff will all be offered improved contracts as boss Brian McDermott begins to rebuild his squad.

All four are entering the final year of their existing contracts at Madejski Stadium.

Mills and Long have been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League, with Wolverhampton Wanderers said to be lining up a £4 million swoop for Mills.

Long has also been linked with Wolves where his former Reading team-mates and Republic of Ireland colleagues Kevin Doyle and Stephen Hunt, brother of Noel, already play.

But it seems Royals will be doing everything they can to hold on to their prized assets.

Director of football Nick Hammond explained: "We have spoken to Jimmy Kebe and his people and we will be sitting down again soon.

"It is an on-going process but we want to offer Jimmy a new contract. In fact, we're hoping to keep everyone - that includes Shane Long, Matt Mills, Adam Federici, Simon Church and Jimmy Kebe. That's the perfect scenario for us.

"There's not so much of a rush with players with two years left on their contracts like Adam Federici.

"But senior players going into the last year like Jimmy Kebe are a priority."