Ipswich Town signing John McGreal today revealed how the lure of Premiership football was behind his decision to leave his beloved Merseyside.

McGreal - who signed for the Blues last night in a £750,000 deal from First Division rivals Tranmere Rovers - admitted it will be a wrench to leave his hometown club.

But the cultured, Liverpool-born defender has taken a gamble and signed for Ipswich to help them back into the top flight - a year before he could have left Rovers for nothing.

He said: "I'm sad to see the back of Liverpool and Tranmere Rovers. It's going to be hard because I was born in the area and joined the club when I was 17.

"I'm not pretending the transition is going to be easy, but my girlfriend Kerry and I have made the decision to start a new life down here with her daughter.

"I had a year left on my existing deal and could have walked away next summer but I want to play in the Premiership and this was an opportunity too good to turn down.

"I already feel like I'm a Premiership player and now I want to prove it by helping Ipswich get promotion.

"This is a great club, with lots of tradition. The manager didn't have to sell the club to me, it sells itself."

Cash-strapped Tranmere had been tipped to sell McGreal - who models his playing style on his hero Alan Hansen - to free-spending Huddersfield Town.

The Terriers have already spent heavily on McGreal's former team mate and good friend, midfielder Kenny Irons, and it looked as though the pair would be reunited.

But McGreal said: "Rumours were rife about Huddersfield coming in for me and it looked for a time as though I may end up there.

"But, when Ipswich came knocking on the door, it didn't take long for me to make a decision. Obviously I spoke to George Burley, but I also spoke to Mark Wright, and he confirmed I was doing the right thing."

Burley admitted his mini-spending spree was over for the time being, but promised more as soon as the season is under way.

He said: "I am still looking to strengthen the squad and want to bring in one or two more new players for the big push."

McGreal, signed as a replacement for Tony Mowbray, is expected to make his Ipswich debut on Saturday against Nottingham Forest.

Ipswich will pay Tranmere an initial £650,000 plus two further instalments of £50,000 after 30 and 60 games. McGreal made his debut for Tranmere in 1991 and went on to play more than 200 games for the club.

He joins other summer signings Jermaine Wright and Mike Salmon at Portman Road.

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