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It is like he has never been away. Cristiano Ronaldo is back scoring goals - and being linked with a move to Real Madrid.

The Ronaldo-to-Real story is beginning to take on the kind of odour that emanates from a dirty kit bag that has been left to fester after a particularly sweaty 90 minutes in the pouring rain on a pitch covered in knee-deep mud.

Like any bad smell, it refuses to go away.

The prospect of Ronaldo turning his back on Manchester United is as real (excuse the pun) as it was a few months ago, with Alex Ferguson admitting that his prize asset is likely to join the Spanish giants one day.

After Ron scored in United's Carling Cup win over Middlesbrough, Fergie said: "Southern Europeans want at some point to play for Real Madrid or Barcelona, so I understood what was going on in Cristiano's mind when he declared he wanted to join Real.

"But once we had talked he accepted it was a move for the future."

The question is - how long will Ronaldo's love affair with United last? A couple of years? One more season? Until January? And does that mean we have to put up with similarly tedious, overly drawn-out transfer stories every time the transfer window opens?

Much to the delight of regular customers at the Gossip Shop, the answer is most likely yes. Huzzah, at least it keeps us open for business.

Another name almost certain to be on the tips of wagging transfer tongues come January is that of Newcastle skipper Michael Owen.

The diminutive hitman is still struggling to come to terms with Kevin Keegan's departure from St James' Park and has admitted he finds the uncertainty surrounding both the club's ownership and managerial position extremely unsettling.

He lamented: "We all like Kevin Keegan and were sad to see him go."

But there may be a ray of light at the end of the tunnel for Toon fans hoping to see Owen remain on Tyneside a little longer - the Nigerian consortium linked to buying out Mike Ashley from the club have targeted Keegan to make a (second) Messianic return to the club.

And it gets better - according to the Sun, Keegan has told friends he would be interested in retaking his old job, as long as the Nigerians let him manage the team his own way. Which, when translated, means 'as long as the Nigerians get rid of Dennis Wise '.

Meanwhile down in east London, West Ham are facing the prospect of having to offload several players in a bid to haul their claret and blue behinds out of the financial predicament they find themselves in.

What with their sponsors taking a nose dive and the Carlos Tevez affair coming to a rather ugly head, the Hammers are now facing the very real prospect of having to let some of their best players leave in January.

Despite claiming the ruling will not affect their transfer policy, West Ham's financial woes are now so dire the Daily Star reckons the likes of Dean Ashton, Mark Noble, Rob Green and Scott Parker - all wanted by other Premier League clubs - may all leave in the New Year.

And finally, Robbie Savage has been told he can leave worst-Premier-League-club-ever Derby - that is scientific fact - if he can find a club willing to take him on loan. Few will be holding their breath.

And with that, the shop closes for another day. Thank you, and please do come again.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport