The top stories and transfer rumours from Wednesday’s newspapers…

World Cup

Jurgen Klopp has emerged as the favourite to become Germany’s new head coach should Julian Nagelsmann be sacked after their early World Cup exit – The Times

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Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg is left disappointed with Germany’s early World Cup exit and discusses manager Julian Nagelsmann’s future in charge.

Virgil van Dijk sparked controversy by claiming the Netherlands’ game plan worked against Morocco, despite being knocked out of the World Cup on penalties – Daily Express

Iran’s football federation has responded to a senior US official celebrating their exit from the World Cup by accusing the co-hosts of peddling “lies”, saying they are “used to mistreatment” – the Guardian

Fifa is being urged to reverse a ruling that an England supporter must censor a St George’s flag featuring a silhouette honouring First World War soldiers – The Times

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A dramatic day of last-32 action at the World Cup saw Germany and the Netherlands both lose in penalty shoot-outs to Paraguay and Morocco, respectively. Also, Brazil edged past Japan with a last-gasp winner from Gabriel Martinelli.

Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, has enraged Germans with a tone-deaf message of congratulations to their World Cup side after they suffered a humiliating defeat by Paraguay – Daily Telegraph

Transfers

Paris St-Germain value France winger Bradley Barcola at more than £116m and maintain their stance that the 23-year-old does not need to be sold amid interest from Liverpool and Arsenal – the Athletic

And Arsenal are ready to test PSG’s resolve over Barcola – Daily Mail

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Paris St-Germain value France winger Bradley Barcola at more than £116m

Liverpool’s pursuit of a winger has also seen them linked with Belgium attacker Matias Fernandez-Pardo, 21, who plays for Lille – Daily Express

Liverpool have drawn up a three-man shortlist to replace Mo Salah now that it looks like they will miss out on both Yan Diomande and Bradley Barcola, including Lille’s Matias Fernandez-Pardo, FC Koln’s Said El Mala and Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh – the Athletic

Marcus Rashford could be offered an opportunity to salvage his Manchester United career following constructive discussions between the club and the player’s representatives – the Mirror

Leandro Trossard is set to assess his Arsenal future after the World Cup – the Mirror

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Lille want at least £70m for Ayyoub Bouaddi

Manchester City, Manchester United and Bayern Munich have joined Arsenal by expressing interest in Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, but Lille want at least £70m for the 18-year-old and to keep him on loan next season – Daily Mail

Brentford are in talks to sign 34-year-old England striker Callum Wilson on a free transfer after his contract expired with West Ham at the end of last season – the Athletic

Ashley Cole has announced his departure from Serie B side Cesena, just three months after joining – the Sun

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International

A plan to expand the Africa Cup of Nations from 24 to 28 teams has been rejected, the Guardian has learned – the Guardian

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Cricket

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Harry Brook pays tribute to Ben Stokes following his retirement from international cricket and insists that he is up to the challenge of becoming the next England Test captain.

Harry Brook has said that he wants to take on the captaincy of the England Test team after Ben Stokes’s retirement earlier this week – The Times

Rugby Union

Cadan Murley appears to have won the race to start on the wing for England against South Africa – The Times

Rassie Erasmus has revealed that he wanted to call Benhard Janse van Rensburg into the Springboks squad for the Nations Championship but was not able to because South Africa had already agreed to allow England to pick the centre – The Times