Paris weigh up Barthez move

Paris St Germain are considering making a bid for Manchester United's out-of-favour French keeper Fabien Barthez to solve their own goalkeeping crisis.

Paris first-choice Lionel Letizi might be out of action for several months with a calf muscle tear and PSG president Francis Graille admits Barthez is a possible replacement.

"When we were negotiating with Manchester over Ronaldinho they proposed Barthez in part-exchange. We weren't interested in that package but if Lionel's injury is serious we will have to look again," Graille told sports daily l'Equipe on Tuesday.

"We've not made a serious approach yet but it would be great to have a world champion in Paris especially as we have already lost one," he said in reference to the Brazil World Cup winner Ronaldinho who finally settled for Barcelona after agonising for months over a move to United.

Barthez, France's 1998 WEorld Cup goalkeeper, has dropped down the pecking order at Old Trafford since manager Alex Ferguson signed American keeper Tim Howard in the summer.

Graille said Barthez might have to accept a salary cut.

"Salaries in the Premiership are higher than in our first division. But things will be smoother now that Peter Kenyon has been replaced by David Gill. I know David and we get on well."

Kenyon, who upset Graille in the Ronaldinho negotiations, left Manchester for Chelsea a fortnight ago and was replaced as chief executive by Gill.