Google complaint 'Tracking code in a wrong place' - Search console stops working

Problem/Motivation

Once installed - and rid of other tracking snippets - Google Search Console does not recognise ownersip / does not verify and I am kicked out. Google's message reads:

Verification method:
Google Analytics

Failure reason:
The Google Analytics tracking code on your site is in the wrong location on the page. You can verify site ownership with the tracking snippet placed in the section of your home page.

Steps to reproduce

remove any google snippets and leave only this module

Proposed resolution

move the analytics tags where google would expect them. They look sound and correct, yet G doesn't like where they are placed.