European Paper Talk: Real Madrid want Christian Pulisic to replace Gareth Bale at the Bernabeu

The January transfer window may only just have closed but Europe's biggest clubs are already plotting their summer moves with a World Cup to negotiate around.

Our friends at Football Whispers have scoured the European media to round-up the latest transfer news.

Spain

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez wants to sign Christian Pulisic to replace Gareth Bale at the Santiago Bernabeu. The £80m-rated Borussia Dortmund forward is a long-term Liverpool transfer target but Perez sees the value in having the poster boy for football in America at his disposal and will push forward with the proposed summer move. (Diario Gol)

Representatives from Gremio were in Barcelona on Monday looking to tie up loose ends on the proposed deal that would see Arthur move to the La Liga club in the 2019 winter window. The midfielder, once named as a Manchester United transfer target, will cost the Catalan club €30m. (Marca)

Real Betis want to bring Iker Casillas back to La Liga. The former Real Madrid shot-stopper enjoyed a first season with FC Porto but has been relegated to the bench for the majority of the 2017/18 campaign. The 36-year-old is reportedly going to be released by the cash-strapped leaders of the Portuguese league, meaning he'll be free to move in the summer. (Mundo Deportivo)

Lazio have identified a replacement for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The Serbian midfielder has been named as a Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid transfer target in recent weeks and it looks likely he will move away from the Italian capital in what could be a blockbuster summer move. If he leaves, Lazio will look to bring in Real Betis midfielder Fabian Ruiz despite Everton transfer rumours suggesting the Toffees want the 21-year-old. (Mundo Deportivo)

France

Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the owner of Paris Saint-Germain, wants Zinedine Zidane to replace Unai Emery at the end of the season if Real Madrid decide to part ways with the French legend. There's a belief at the Parc des Princes that the project is lacking a leader and Zidane, who knows how to manage egos, could be the man to get a handle on things in the French capital. (Le10Sport)

The Ligue 1 leaders have, to the surprise of many, slapped an €80m (£71.3m) price tag on Edinson Cavani's head. In the modern transfer market it's not a fee that would dissuade others from bidding for the French club's all-time leading scorer. (Le10Sport)

Liverpool and Barcelona transfer target Houssem Aouar has revealed he wants to stay with Lyon, at least in the short-term, to continue his development. Over recent weeks he's been linked with a move to Anfield as a potential Philippe Coutinho replacement but the 19-year-old wants to remain in France: "I want to continue growing with Lyon. Discover and help him find the Champions League," he said. (France Football)

Italy

Barcelona and Arsenal transfer target Lautaro Martinez is set to undergo the first part of his Inter Milan medical, ahead of his proposed summer move. The Serie A side have agreed a £17m fee with Racing Club. (Calciomercato)

Mario Balotelli wants to return to Serie A. The Italy international, plying his trade with Nice in Ligue 1, is out of contract in the summer and believes he's ready for a return. "My agent Mino Raiola is taking care of my future," he said. "All I know is that I have matured and I am ready to come back to Italy. I think it'd be very difficult to come to Milan, as it would be the third time, but Juventus and Napoli are two teams that I like." (RAI Sport)

Germany

Bayern Munich want to sign FC Porto B right-back Diogo Dalat with a view then he spends a year or two under Rafinha to learn the ropes before taking over. The 19-year-old is a highly rated prospect in his home nation and is tipped to break into the first-team at the Estadio do Dragao as soon as Ricardo Pereira is moved on. (Kicker)

Atletico Madrid are the latest side to show an Interest in Max Meyer. The Schalke midfielder is out of contract in the summer and is believed to be on the radar of Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Barcelona. He's recently rejected a new deal at the Veltins-Arena and Atleti manager Diego Simeone views him as a potential successor to Gabi in the heart of his midfield. (SportBild)