City hunt striker as Macken joins Palace

Manchester City will step up their bid to sign Nigerian striker John Utaka from Lens after selling Jon Macken to Crystal Palace yesterday.

Macken, who cost City £5million from Preston in 2002, joined Palace for £750,000 which rises to £1m if Iain Dowie steers the Londoners back into the Premiership.

The 27-year-old had struggled to justify his transfer fee at City and admitted he was disappointed to be moving on.

'I felt as though things were just starting to come together for me at City,' said Macken. 'There was a real buzz about the place.

'But I need to be playing regularly and, having spoken to a few clubs, I was most impressed by Crystal Palace and their set up.'