With Gareth Bale having scored key goals in the Champions League, Copa del Rey and World Club Cup finals, you would think Real Madrid will do their utmost to keep the Welshman at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Yet, the winger is being linked with a big-money move back to the Premier League with Manchester United.

Louis van Gaal refused to be drawn on the rumours today, so we put the question to our European football correspondent Graham Hunter, who gave his perspective on the story.

"Bale is happy and enjoying his life and football at Real Madrid," said Graham. "There is undoubtedly a buzz around his form whereby there are influential people in the media - and I'd use the adjective 'stupid' people in the media - who think that because Isco and James [Rodriguez] in the midfield makes a football which is prettier, more intricate ... partly fueled by Bale's unwillingness this season to track and tackle back, there is a feeling that he represents results and athleticism."

He also looked at David Moyes' start at Real Sociedad and how he is faring ahead of his first winter break.

As Graham said, Moyes will have plenty to mull over in regards to his squad before La Liga resumes in earnest next month.

"He is shocked by the state of their fitness, he is worried by the fact that they've got a soft underbelly," said Graham.

Meanwhile, German football writer Rafa Honigstein also joined us on the Football Show to give us a handle on the struggles at Borussia Dortmund who head into the winter break second from bottom.