Transfer News: Gareth Bale Future at Real Madrid Sorted, Manchester United in Contract Stand-Off

Gareth Bale's Galactico dream looked like it was coming to an end.

Once the most expensive player in world football, now the Welshman struggles to get into Zinedine Zidane's team at Real Madrid.

He has fallen down the pecking order, with Marco Asensio's rise an accelerating factor.

A return to the Premier League looked to be the most likely option for him, with one of the more wealthy clubs expected to put in a bid for the 2013 PFA Player of the Year.

Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon told Newsweek last month that a bid for Bale had come from England last summer in the region of 100 million euros.

But the transfer round-up begins with Calderon's successor Florentino Perez and his take on Bale's future:

According to The Sun, Real Madrid president Perez wants Bale to stay at the Bernabeu and continue to be a part of Zidane's team, regardless of the speculation around the 28-year-old's future.

Manchester United were one of the clubs expected to be interested in Bale. But Jose Mourinho's team are busy trying to keep the players they have got. According to ESPN, Marouane Fellaini, the 30-year-old midfielder, wants the club to offer him a longer contract than the current option of one year.

There is a similar situation going on at the Emirates. Arsenal, the Daily Mirror reported, have improved an offer to keep midfielder Jack Wilshere, but the 26-year-old is the subject of interest at Everton and Wolves, and is out of contract at the end of the season.

Liverpool's pursuit of Schalke forward Max Meyer may have new impetus after the 22-year-old German was banned from training and first-team selection, according to Sky Sports. Meyer reportedly criticized the club's sporting director Christian Heidel.

And finally, Championship winners Wolves have joined the race to sign England goalkeeper Jack Butland, as his club Stoke City look to be heading in the other direction, relegated from the Premier League. Wolves face competition from Liverpool and West Ham, according to the Daily Express.