french champions marseille are finding it difficult to attract new players - and keep at least on their stars

The Champions League is in full swing, but there are far more interesting signs of the fate of Europe’s football clubs being played out in friendlies across the world.

Perhaps the most intriguing friendly match of the season so far will take place in Tunis in the Trophee des Champions between Olympique Marseille and Paris St-Germain…

Olympique Marseille

Marseille take on Paris St-Germain in the Trophee des Champions tonight in Tunis with more to lose than the capital side, who finished a lowly 13th in Ligue 1 Orange last season after flattering to deceive for much of the season.

Antoine Kombouare’s side did pick up the Coupe de France at the tail end of the season and they will be wanting to put a benchmark down for the 2010/11 season against the champions in Tunisia.

However, all eyes will be on Didier Deschamps side who have failed to pick up any of their pre-season targets in the transfer market – and have had some worrying moments on and off the pitch this pre-season.

A 2-0 loss to Toulouse last week was not on the cards, and there fragility was perhaps highlighted by the fact that defensive midfielder Stephane Mbia failed to play any part after missing the start of pre-season training.

The talismanic Cameroon  international was not flavour of the month, and protracted interest from Arsenal is said to be destabilising the club.

Tonight’s match could be interesting, although Deschamps has tried to play down its significance.

Portsmouth

Portsmouth, meanwhile, newly relegated to the Championship, after a miserable season on and off the pitch in the Premier League last year, would wish to have the kind of personnel problems Marseille are having.

Pompey have just completed the most absurd tour to the US, in which a depleted squad was promptly given the run around by all and sundry.

At present they officially have a first team squad of just 14 players – and no goalkeepers – with just ten days to go before the startof the season.

Because of last season’s administration and a winding-up order still hanging over their heads the South Coast side continue to try to operate nder a restrictive transfer embargo.

Manager Steve Cotterill is well aware of the dire situation claiming that while the youth players he has at the moment are trying their hardest, they are just boys – and they will be playing in a “man’s league” from next week.

It is little surprise that the bookies have them quoted as low as 2/1 third favourites to be relegated for the second time in two season.

Fulham

The West London club continue to be managerless after the departure of Roy Hodgson to Liverpool, but refuse to panic – even though many pundits think that perhaps a bit of concern is in order.

Those with good memories will note that it was Hodgson that pulled Fulham out of a very sticky relegation tussle at the tail end of the season before last, before taking them on a Uefa Cup run that ended in the final against Atletico Madrid in May.

A number of high-profile managers have turned down the job and now owner Mohamed Al Fayed is beginning to turn to Championship managers in a desperate bid to get a boss in in time for the start of the Premier League campaign in two weeks. Cardiff’s Dave Jones is the latest to say no thanks.

Pre-season has been uninspiring, and an away trip to Bolton on the opening game of the season is already being seen as a relegation six-pointer.

The bookies think so too, with their price for relegation dropping as low as 6/1 at Coral from a high of 10/1 just this morning.