Monday's gossip column - transfers and rumours
Last updated on .From the section Football
TRANSFER GOSSIP
Manchester City have made initial enquiries about signing Napoli's Edinson Cavani, 25, and Atletico Madrid's Radamel Falcao, 26.
Everton and West Brom are looking to capitalise on the problems at Rangers by moving for Steven Naismith, 25, and Steven Whittaker, 28. The Scottish internationals have both rejected the transfer of their contracts to the newco at the SPL outfit.
Blackburn are planning a double raid on Newcastle with Dan Gosling, 22, and Leon Best, 25, on manager Steve Kean's wanted list.
Arsene Wenger has revealed he is "on the case" with Germany forward Marco Reus. Arsenal boss Wenger raved about Reus, 23, as he commentated on Germany v Greece for French TV.
Barcelona have made a move for Manchester City teenager Joan Angel Roman. Angel Roman, 19, went to City three years ago from Espanyol but has not lived up to his promise.
Cardiff are weighing up a move to bring back Craig Bellamy. The club's Malaysian backers want the striker, 32, to fire up next season's promotion campaign.
West Brom and Newcastle are both keen on a loan move for Tottenham full-back Danny Rose, 21. Spurs are also expected to lose full-back Vedran Corluka.
ENGLAND
Martin Samuel says that unless England can unearth someone as good as Italy's Andrea Pirlo, they must prepare for more disappointment in the future.
England lost to Italy on penalties, lost on all the statistics and lost morally to Italy, according to Chief Sports Writer Paul Hayward.
Richard Williams feels that while England did not deserve to win, Italy did not put in a commanding display either.
England's exit from Euro 2012 exit was a triumph of pride and courage, but a failure of nerves and class, in Oliver Holt's opinion.
Steven Howard says England made a brave effort but no one should dispute that the right team won in the end.
England made a noble effort, according to James Lawton, but were undone by the familiar curse of the penalty shoot-out.
EURO 2012
Roy Hodgson insisted there was nothing more England could have done as they lost their fifth successive penalty shoot-out.
Germany's preparations for Thursday's semi-final have been hit by revelations that a mole has been leaking the line-ups to media hours before kick-off.
Samir Nasri's future with France is on the line after his country's FA dubbed his foul-mouthed rant at a journalist "intolerable".
OTHER GOSSIP
Birmingham hope to name Lee Clark as their new manager this week. Cash-strapped Brum want Clark, 39, as their next boss after losing Chris Hughton to Norwich.
AND FINALLY
Italy and Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has been immortalised by an artist with wheat field 'crop circle' in Italy.
