Gossip column: Verratti, Stones, Laporte, Zielinski, Veretout

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Image source, Daily Mirror
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Crowd disturbances at Euro 2016 dominate the British press

Manchester United are ready to make a £79m bid for Paris St-Germain's 23-year-old Italy midfielder Marco Verratti. (Corriere dello Sport, via Daily Star), external

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 34, has promised to reveal the next club he will play for "soon" amid continued speculation about a move to Manchester United. (Daily Express), external

Image source, Daily Star
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Northern Ireland's defeat shares the Daily Star's back page with Uefa's warning to England

Pep Guardiola wants to make Everton's John Stones and Athletic Bilbao's Aymeric Laporte, both 22, his central defensive partnership at Manchester City next season, in a combined deal that could cost as much as £85m. (Manchester Evening News), external

Liverpool have made a £9.5m offer for Udinese's Poland midfielder Piotr Zielinski, 22. (Guardian), external

Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez, 25, has not ruled out a move to Premier League rivals Arsenal. (Get French Football, via Daily Express), external

Meanwhile, Liverpool are the latest side to show an interest in signing Foxes midfielder N'Golo Kante, 25. (Daily Star), external

Juventus forward Alvaro Morato wants to return to Real Madrid, but the 23-year-old Spain international would be open to signing for Manchester United or Chelsea rather than Arsenal or Paris St-Germain. (AS), external

Image source, Bild
Image caption,

"Jogi wins with sweat and Schweini" is the headline in Germany's Bild newspaper after Sunday's 2-0 victory over Ukraine

Jorge Sampaoli will take over as Sevilla's new coach after Unai Emery confirmed his departure from the Europa League champions. (Marca), external

Former Nantes midfielder Jordan Veretout, 23, wants to leave relegated Aston Villa this summer - with several clubs from the top leagues in Europe keen to sign him. (L'Equipe, via Birmingham Mail), external

Steve McClaren says he failed in his role as head coach at Newcastle United because he was not assertive enough. (Daily Mirror), external

England midfielder Eric Dier, 22, fancies the Euro 2016 game against Wales on Thursday to be more like a Premier League match than an international.(Guardian), external

England manager Roy Hodgson has been told to drop Tottenham striker Harry Kane, 22, by senior figures in the Three Lions' camp. (Sun), external

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic texted Dimitri Payet, 29, saying "you have nothing to prove, you are the best player there" before the Hammers midfielder scored France's winner against Romania on Friday. (Daily Mail), external

The best of social media

Germany's 2-0 win over Ukraine impressed professional players as well as fans. Swansea winger Wayne Routledge tweeted, external that "Germany are relentless", with Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish adding:, external "Never seen a king of assists like Ozil."

Arsenal midfielder Ozil himself was on Twitter shortly after the match to give his thoughts.

Image source, @MesutOzil1088
Image caption,

Ozil and his Germany team-mates started Euro 2016 with a win

The playing of 'God Save The Queen' before Northern Ireland's match against Poland on Sunday prompted injured Manchester City and Belgium defender Vincent Kompany to ask:, external "If England faces Northern Ireland will we hear the same national anthem twice? Will they all sing it together... twice? I'm confused."

Veteran Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given could barely contain his excitement on social media, external before Monday's Euro 2016 match against Sweden, posting: "One sleep to go for @FAIreland @UEFAEURO #EURO2016."

Tottenham's Belgium defenders Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld were both on Twitter on the eve of their opening Group E match against Italy in Lyon. Alderweireld stuck to the facts (see below), while Vertonghen went for a motivational slogan and explanatory hashtag:, external "We are ready! #Euro2016."

Image source, @AlderweireldTob
Image caption,

Belgium are ranked second in the world behind Argentina

The 'Will Grigg's on fire' chant, created by a Wigan supporter in tribute to the Northern Ireland striker, inspired a clever variation on the heat map trope as he was left on the bench for Sunday's defeat against Poland - see below, and look closely.

Image source, @rbarraclough23

And finally

A Pakistani man who was held hostage by Islamist militants for nearly five years has received a signed football shirt from Manchester United after he revealed that listening to their matches kept him "sane" while in captivity. (Sky News), external

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