Manchester City frontman Paul Dickov has joined Crystal Palace on loan until January, while Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez has swooped to sign troubled hitman Shefki Kuqi on a similar deal in two last minute deadline day moves.

The former Arsenal and Scotland striker has fallen down the pecking order under City boss Sven Goran-Erikkson after the arrivals of Rolando Bianchi and Geovanni at Eastlands and the 34-year-old has secured a temporary move to Selhurst Park in search of first-team football.

Dickov joins Liverpool striker Besian Idrizaj at SE25 as Eagles boss Peter Taylor's second unexpected swoop in two days.

The Scot is ineligible for today's crunch clash with south London neighbours Charlton Athletic.

Kuqi's move to Premiership side Fulham is less unexpected after the Finn's frustrating start to the campaign having made just one start, in the Carling Cup defeat to Bristol Rovers.

The former Ipswich and Blackburn striker has endured a topsy-turvy Palace career having scored just eight goals in 41 first-team appearances, while the Finn has also been targeted by some of the Palace boo-boys who believe his performances have not lived up to his hefty £2.5m price tag.

Kuqi will surely be looking to turn his Craven Cottage move into a permanent deal as he looks to put his Selhurst Park nightmare behind him.

In another Eagles deadline day deal, starlet Lewis Grabban sealed a loan move to Scottish Premier League side Motherwell in a deal that will expire at the end of January.