Man City 'cast eyes towards Bent'

Manchester City are lining up a £1m bid for Everton striker Marcus Bent, according to reports.
City boss Stuart Pearce is said to have targeted the 27-year-old to bolster his attacking options.

After selling Jonathan Macken to Crystal Palace, City have only Robbie Fowler as a senior striker.

Out-of-favour Bent is likely to fall even further down the Goodison Park pecking order if Toffees boss David Moyes lands his summer targets.

Everton are reportedly eyeing Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy and Swedish striker Johan Elmander who plays for Danish club Brondby.

City boss Pearce will have noted that despite being apparently surplus to requirements at Goodison Park, Bent made 37 Premiership appearances last season, including six as substitute, and scored six Premiership goals to prove his ability to play in the top flight.

The much-travelled Bent began at Brentford as a trainee and his journey has taken him to Crystal Palace, Port Vale and Sheffield United before a £2.1m move to Blackburn.

From there, Bent moved to Ipswich in a £3m deal and had a loan spell at Leicester before joining Everton last June for £450,000.