Slaphead for hire?

Marseille chairman Pape Diouf has said he and the club will wait until after the season to make up their minds whether to give Fabien Barthez a new contract.

Marseille are holding back because of the big wages Barthez commands and reports say Monaco might step in if Marseille don’t make him an offer.

Barthez’s is 34, a time when a lot of goalkeeper’s are reaching their peak, so he should still be able to do a good job for a team, especially if a chairman wanted someone to add a little colour to the side.