Real Madrid are 11/10 to avoid defeat in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich and put themselves in a strong position heading into the return match.

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Real find themselves in the unusual position of being the underdogs with Bayern 39/50 for victory at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night while the leaders of LaLiga are on offer at 18/5.

The German side suffered a setback on Sunday too when Mats Hummels was injured in training. The defender sprained an ankle and sustained ligament damage which means he will almost certainly miss the first leg and could also be forced to sit out the trip to the Bernabeu next Tuesday.

Real will hope they can take advantage of the absence of Hummels and look good value at 23/20 to progress to the semi-finals. Zinedine Zidane’s men are also available at 12/5 to reach the final and 21/4 to win the competition.

It is not all bad news on the injury front for Bayern, though, and coach Carlo Ancelotti may have some positive news with goalkeeper Manuel Neuer likely to return following a minor foot operation.

Top scorer Robert Lewandowski should be available, despite suffering a bruised shoulder in the 4-1 Bundesliga win over Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, while Thomas Muller is back in contention after missing two games with an ankle problem.

Muller, who lifted the trophy with Bayern in 2013 and also finished runner-up in 2010 and 2012, cannot wait for the visit of Real and is optimistic about his side's chances of knocking out the holders.

“We're very confident,” he said. “It's a European cracker featuring two top teams. Of course we're really looking forward to it.

“We also notice it outside the club, not only in terms of the media but also when talking to friends or acquaintances in Munich. Everyone's talking about the game. We're well-prepared.”

Despite being two of the leading clubs on the continent, Bayern and Real have never met in the final of the European Cup or Champions League.

But they have been paired together 10 times in the knockout stages of Europe's elite club competition and the bragging rights are split down the middle with five overall wins apiece.

Real, though, will have fond memories of their last visit to Bavaria after trouncing Bayern 4-0 in the return leg of their semi-final three years ago en route to a comprehensive 5-0 aggregate success.

They enter Wednesday's fixture on the back of a nine-game unbeaten run although a six-match winning streak was ended over the weekend in a draw with city rivals Atletico.

Bayern were unexpectedly challenged by RB Leipzig in the early stages of this season but have opened up a 10-point advantage in the Bundesliga while they have looked in ominous form in recent weeks - not least in a 10-2 aggregate destruction of Arsenal in the previous Champions League round.

The match sees two of the best forwards in the world go up against each other as Lewandowski and Cristiano Ronaldo take centre stage.

Lewandowski has bagged 15 goals in his last 11 appearances for Bayern, including Bundesliga hat-tricks in routs over Hamburg and Augsburg.

The 28-year-old has found the net 26 times in the German top flight this season while a record of 38 goals in 40 games in all competitions is astonishing.

Real need no reminders of Lewandowski's prowess after the Pole became the first player to score four goals in a Champions League game while representing Dortmund against them four years ago.

Ronaldo has only scored once in his last five matches for Real but a 2016/17 record of 26 goals from 36 appearances is commendable, if slightly below his usual output over the course of a season.

Lewandowski is the 11/4 favourite to open the scoring and is odds on, at 81/100, to hit the net at any time in the first leg. He is also 9/2 to score at least twice and 25/1 for a hat-trick.

Ronaldo is 7/4 to score, 23/4 for the opener and 9/1 for a repeat of the double he enjoyed at the same venue three years ago.

Real’s city rivals Atletico are also in Champions League action on Wednesday night as they host the outsiders in the competition, Leicester.

The Foxes are famously no strangers to upsetting the odds, though, and the bookmakers will certainly be wary of writing them off, with Leicester 33/1 to complete another fairytale success to match last season’s historic Premier League win.

Leicester are 19/5 to get through to the semi-finals while Atletico are the clear favourites at 9/50. The home side are 2/7 win the first leg while Leicester are 12/1 for the win and 14/5 to avoid defeat.

It could be argued that facing Atletico is the worst draw the Foxes could have been given due to their style of play, which should limit their favoured tactic of catching the opposition out on the counter-attack.

Atletico come into the tie in good form, too. They have lost just three times in their last 25 matches in all competitions - twice to Barcelona - and sit third in LaLiga.

Saturday's 1-1 draw at Real, thanks to Antoine Griezmann's late equaliser, left them 10 points behind their city rivals in the title race.

While Diego Simeone's men are unlikely to win the league for the first time since 2014 they have lost just four times at home, twice in LaLiga, this campaign.

They have also only failed to score twice in their last 25 games - the 0-0 draw against Bayer Leverkusen which set up their clash against Leicester and a 3-0 defeat at Villarreal in December.

They are 29/20 to score three or more goals on Wednesday, 5/2 to manage exactly two and 29/20 to be limited to no more than one.

Keeping Griezmann quiet will be key. The in-form France striker has scored seven times in his last nine games for club and country and is the hosts' biggest threat with 25 goals so far this term.

He is averaging a goal every 171 minutes in LaLiga and is 87/100 to breach Leicester’s defence or 51/20 for the first goal.

While Leicester’s interim boss Craig Shakespeare is new to the role, his opposite number Simeone knows what it takes to win European trophies.

He won LaLiga in 2014 - the first time the club were champions since Simeone won it with them as a player in 1996 - to break Real and Barcelona's stranglehold on the crown.

Simeone also clinched the Europa League in 2012 and guided the Rojiblancos to the Champions League final in 2014 and 2016 - when they twice lost to Real.

The former Inter Milan midfielder has already warned his team to be wary of Leicester, though, saying: “This is a team that was able to win the English league. We know the game will be very tough against a rival that is similar to us.”

Barcelona have been warned that Juventus are “better than them” as they prepare for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday night.

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The confidence of the Italian champions could not be higher heading into the first leg at Juventus Stadium and they are 8/5 to secure a lead to take to Spain for the return match.

Juve boast a six-point lead at the top of Serie A and last week reached the final of the Coppa Italia after beating Napoli 5-4 on aggregate.

They were defeated 3-2 in the second leg in Naples last Wednesday but otherwise have not tasted defeat in any competition in the last three months.

Barcelona, on the other hand, suffered a surprise 2-0 defeat to Malaga in LaLiga at the weekend yet they are the 51/100 favourites to progress to the last four, with Juve 29/20 to go through.

The Italians are paying no attention to the odds though and forward Paulo Dybala believes they are in their best spell of the season heading into the final few weeks of the campaign.

Dybala told Spanish newspaper Marca: “I think we're coming into the tie in the best manner. We're better than them.

“We're in the best moment of the season. That's how I see it after knocking Napoli out of the cup and the league wins against Chievo and Sampdoria.

“I'm sure Barcelona will want a response to the defeat against Malaga. But that's fine, at home we are a very strong team.”

Juve, who lost 3-1 to Barca in the 2015 Champions League final, are unbeaten in 21 European games at the Juventus Stadium and have won 32 successive league matches in front of their own fans - keeping 21 clean sheets in the process.

They are 11/5 to shut out Barcelona on Tuesday night and 18/5 for victory without conceding an away goal.

However, Massimiliano Allegri's side will be more than aware that even a big win in the first leg might not be enough to secure a semi-final spot, evidenced by Barca's stunning performance in the previous round.

On that occasion Barca recorded one of the greatest comebacks in football history when they overturned a 4-0 first-leg deficit against Paris St Germain to progress to the last eight 6-5 on aggregate.

Dybala insists his side cannot fear a repeat of the same thing happening to them.

He said: “We must not be afraid of anything. Respect yes, but not fear.

“We're in the best moment to face Barcelona. They recovered against PSG, but PSG didn't play that game like they should have. The 6-1 (second-leg score at the Nou Camp) serves as a lesson to us.”

Juve will be without winger Marko Pjaca as he will miss the rest of the season after suffering knee ligament damage while on Croatia duty.

Barca, meanwhile, are missing midfield lynchpin Sergio Busquets through suspension while Arda Turan, Aleix Vidal and Rafinha are all injured.

Luis Enrique's men head to Turin still in contention for a trophy treble this season and they are 14/5 to win the Champions League.

The match sees Barca forward Luis Suarez once again go up against Giorgio Chiellini, the defender who he famously bit during the 2014 World Cup when playing for Uruguay against Italy.

Suarez received a four-month ban on that occasion and 888 are offering a number of special bets on what might happen on Tuesday night.

Suarez is 50/1 to again bite the Juventus man or 25/1 to bite anyone in the match. He is 16/1 to get a card for diving and 80/1 to receive a straight red card for a foul on Chiellini, with 75/1 on offer for the roles to be reversed.

The other quarter-final on Tuesday night sees Borussia Dortmund hosting Ligue 1 leaders Monaco at the Westfalenstadion.

The German side are the 5/9 favourites to go through, with Monaco priced up at 27/20, and Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel suggests Monaco’s odds are good value after claiming his team are slight underdogs.

Dortmund sit fourth in the Bundesliga table after suffering a 4-1 defeat at rivals Bayern Munich on Saturday and Tuchel feels Monaco's superior domestic form may give them a small advantage.

“Monaco have lots of players who impress us,” he told uefa.com. “We think they have outstanding individual talent, but they are also very compact as a team and athletically very strong.

“It's a very complete package with an outstanding coach who has a distinctive style. They have big personalities and a lot of good young players.

“It is a 50-50 game, but the momentum (is) slightly on their side. But we feel ready for this great match, to show what we can do and to win it.”

Dortmund have endured injuries to key players in recent weeks, but they could welcome back a number of first-team regulars against Monaco.

Julian Weigl and Shinji Kagawa are expected to be available, along with right-back Lukasz Piszczek, while creative midfielder Marco Reus may also be fit.

Dortmund are 33/50 to win the first leg and defender Raphael Guerreiro believes the club's supporters could play a big role in securing a positive first-leg result.

“In our stadium we have a really incredible atmosphere,” he said. “The fans will put a lot of pressure (on the visitors) and that will really help us. It is true that we have had some problems away from home, but we have had very good results at home. But we are still very stable.

“Some players have returned from injury and it will take a while for them to get back to their usual level.”

Monaco are 6/1 to emulate the side which reached the final of the competition in 2004, but midfielder Fabinho admits elimination would “not be a disaster”.

Leonardo Jardim's side are currently three points above champions Paris St Germain in Ligue 1 and Fabinho believes winning the domestic championship is more important than progressing in the Champions League.

Monaco have not been further than the quarter-finals of Europe's premier competition since they lost 3-0 in the final to Jose Mourinho's Porto 13 years ago.

“In 2004, it was an unprecedented event for Monaco,” Fabinho told the club's official website. “It's a different time, but nothing is impossible in football. We're not the best team or the favourites, but we're going to give it our all.

“The priority is the championship, but we want to continue our way, it is a competition apart. If we are eliminated it will not be a disaster.”

Monaco's chances have not been helped by the loss of defender Djibril Sidibe, who is in hospital being treated for appendicitis, while midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, who scored the deciding goal in the last round against Manchester City, is suspended.

Fabinho insists they will continue to play the attacking football which has seen them net 88 times in 31 league games as they approach the business end of the season.

The Brazilian, who has scored eight of those goals, plus one in the European victory over City, added: “When we saw we were going to play Dortmund, we knew they were going to be very difficult opponents in their attacking play, and with the talented young players they have. In those respects, they are similar to us.

“They have an excellent team, with a bit more European experience than us, but we're going to try to stand up to them.

“The style we play is not going to change, it has got us this far, so we'll try to play the same against Dortmund.”

Both teams to score can be backed at 3/7 while Dortmund to win but concede is 17/10. Odds of 27/20 are on offer for there to be three or four goals and 2/1 for five goals or more.

JUVENTUS vs FC PORTO

Simply put, Porto need a miracle to advance to the next round. Massimiliano Allegri’s men will take a two-goal lead into the second leg and Juventus haven an impeccable record on home soil. The Italian champions have avoided defeat in their last 45 matches at Juventus Stadium and it would take a brave man to back against Allegri’s side with that in mind.

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The visitors have absolutely nothing to lose; they might as well go out and try to end Juve’s phenomenal record. On their day, Porto are capable of shocking the best teams in Europe and we shouldn’t write them off just yet. If the visitors snatch an early away goal, the entire complexion of this tie changes.

For me, Juventus will keep things tight at the back and the Italian side will breakthrough once Porto begin to push. I’ll be backing yet another home win at Juventus Stadium...

TIP: Juventus to win @ 4/6

LEICESTER CITY vs SEVILLA

A tricky one. Leicester have shown plenty of improvement since Claudio Ranieri’s departure and the Foxes might just overturn the 2-1 deficit if they put their minds to it. The defending Premier League champions were simply sublime when beating Liverpool at the King Power Stadium a few weeks ago and Leicester will be looking for a similar performance here.

Meanwhile, Sevilla have tailed off after a solid start to the campaign. They are still there or thereabouts in the La Liga title race but both Real Madrid and Barcelona have put a bit of distance between themselves and the chasing pack. Rumours over Jorge Sampaoli’s future at the club may continue to distract attention from on-field efforts.

I can see both teams scoring a goal or two in this clash. Leicester need to score in order to reach the quarter-finals but Sevilla won’t want to gamble on keeping a clean sheet...

TIP: Both teams to score @ 4/7

ATLETICO MADRID vs BAYER LEVERKUSEN

Diego Simeone’s men have one foot in the next round already but the Argentinian will be demanding another solid effort from his players at Vicente Calderon. The hosts scored four away goals in Leverkusen last time out and only a collapse of catastrophic proportions from Atletico will see the visitors book their place in the last eight.

On paper, Leverkusen have a decent side but they will struggle to keep tabs on Atletico’s potent offensive unit. Antoine Griezmann, Kevin Gameiro and Fernando Torres are capable of turning a match on its head in the blink of an eye and it is almost impossible to see Bayer turning this one around.

Atletico are in a commanding position right now but they won’t let up. It could be another difficult night for Leverkusen if Madrid go for the throat...

TIP: Atletico to win @ 13/20

MONACO vs MANCHESTER CITY

Monaco will be raring to go after scoring three away goals at the Etihad Stadium in the first leg but their defensive frailties could come back to haunt them. Pep Guardiola’s men scored five times on that entertaining evening and it is hard to envision Manchester City letting that advantage slip on Wednesday night.

With the likes of Leroy Sane and Sergio Aguero hitting form at the right time, City are lethal on the counter attack and Monaco will need to be wary of conceding an early goal. An away goal won’t necessarily change Monaco’s objectives as they need to win by two clear goals anyway but it certainly won’t help matters if City extend their advantage.

The French side will have to go for it and City may pick them off on the break. I fancy Pep’s men to win or draw on the night; a result that will see the Blues cruise through...

TIP: Manchester City to win OR draw @ 13/25

As of March 13^th, a £10 stake on this four-fold returns £66.61 – click here for more odds on European football

APOEL NICOSIA vs ANDERLECHT

The Cyprus outfit are unbeaten in 18 matches on home soil; winning 16 of those. They have a 100% winning record at GSP Stadium in the Europa League this campaign and it would be foolish to back against APOEL with that in mind.

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However, Anderlecht are the strongest side to visit Cyprus this season and the Belgians will be confident of nicking a positive result on Thursday evening. Rene Weiler’s men have been inconsistent away from home in recent weeks but they have managed to hit the back of the net in each of their last nine away games.

All in all, it is hard to pick a winner in this one but 22/25 for both teams to score looks like a great price. Neither side will want to give too much away in this clash but the onus will be on APOEL to push for a lead; that could give Anderlecht space on the break...

TIP: Both teams to score @ 22/25

FC COPENHAGEN vs AJAX

Copenhagen are a decent outfit and Ajax certainly won’t have things their own way. The Danish side have won just one of their last five home games but they have the strength in depth to push Ajax close if they perform well.

However, the Dutch side are on another level. The visitors aren’t the dominant force that they were a few years ago but Peter Bosz’s side are unbeaten in the Europa League and another positive result could spur the Dutch outfit on as they look to build momentum.

The hosts will be desperate to take an advantage into the second leg but Ajax may be too strong if they find their best form. 10/17 for the Dutch side in the ‘double chance’ market is very tempting indeed...

TIP: Ajax to win OR draw @ 10/17

CELTA VIGO vs FC KRASNODAR

Celta Vigo struggled to inspire confidence against Barcelona last time out but they may find the going much nicer when Krasnodar visit. The hosts will be quietly confident of beating a Russian side that have won just once in their last 10 away fixtures.

Krasnodar are fourth in the Russian League right now and the visitors must remain focused for 90 minutes if they are to challenge Celta’s dominance. Striker Fyodor Smolov has bagged 11 goals in 13 appearances this season and the visitors will be relying on him to make the breakthrough.

5/8 for a home win may seem a little short considering Celta’s shortcomings in recent weeks but they are well worth backing; especially when you consider Krasnodar’s away form...

TIP: Celta Vigo to win @ 5/8

LYON vs ROMA

Lyon are in fantastic form at home and the French side are full of confidence ahead of this clash. The hosts have scored 20 goals in their last four games at home and it may prove prudent to side with Bruno Genesio’s side again here.

On their day, Roma are capable of giving the best teams in Europe a tough encounter and it may prove prudent to side with the visitors. Unfortunately, four defeats in five games has affected their chances of Serie A success – their hopes of silverware now rest on the Europa.

A tough one to call but the 37/25 available on Lyon is very tempting indeed and I’m backing the French side to extend their winning run on home soil...

TIP: Lyon to win @ 37/25

ARSENAL vs BAYERN MUNICH

Arsene Wenger is under serious pressure. The Gunners were thrashed 5-1 in the first leg and the Frenchman must now decide whether to rest key players ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final clash with Lincoln City. For some reason, I think Wenger will play a full strength side; mainly in an attempt to restore some pride perhaps.

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When these two sides clash, goals are usually on the cards. With Bayern comfortably ahead on aggregate, I can see Carlo Ancelotti’s men keeping this one relatively tight. The Bavarians don’t need to go all out for the win and a low-scoring, timid affair will suit the visitors with Saturday’s clash with Eintracht Frankfurt on the horizon.

In my opinion, 13/20 for under 3.5 goals to be scored is an absolute steal. Arsenal know that, barring a minor miracle, they are out and the Gunners will be looking to keep the fans onside with a victory on home soil; but don’t expect any fireworks...

TIP: Under 3.5 goals @ 13/20

Napoli vs REAL MADRID

Napoli gave the Spanish giants a real scare in the opening leg but Zinedine Zidane’s men ran out comfortable winners in the end. Unfortunately for the Italians, I can only see this one going one way on Tuesday night and that is in favour of the visitors. 7/5 for Real to win on the night is fantastic value in my eyes.

With the likes of Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema firing on all cylinders, Real are blessed with a plethora of attacking talent. In fact, Madrid notched 16 goals in their six group games; five more than Napoli managed. The Italian side are strong but there is a Gonzalo Higuain-shaped hole upfront.

This could get interesting if Napoli bag the first goal but I’m backing Madrid to step up with a professional performance here. Los Blancos are one of Europe’s finest outfits and it is hard to see Zidane’s men letting their two-goal advantage slip...

TIP: Real Madrid to win @ 7/5

Borussia Dortmund vs BENFICA

Dortmund have been much improved in recent weeks but Benfica are no slouches and the Portuguese men will be quietly confident of defending their slender advantage. The visitors snatched a one-nil victory in the first leg and it would be fair to state that this one is finely balanced ahead of the return fixture in Germany.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struggled for form after returning from international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations but the Dortmund striker has found his feet in recent weeks. In fact, he netted consecutive braces in Bundesliga clashes with Freiburg and Bayer Leverkusen and it would be foolish to back against the home side with their main man in blistering form.

However, they are susceptible in defence and the 3/4 available on Benfica to score at least once is generous. The Portuguese giants have bagged 52 league goals so far this season and Rui Vitoria’s men have also scored in all seven of their Champions League encounters...

TIP: Benfica to score @ 3/4

BARCELONA vs PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN

Paris Saint-Germain shocked the footballing world by thrashing Barcelona by four goals to nil in the opening leg and Unai Emery’s men will be confident of booking their place in the quarter-finals. Barcelona were not at the races that day but even they will have a tough job turning round a four-goal deficit.

Should PSG score, Barcelona will need six – a tally that is probably beyond Luis Enrique’s men. With Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar in attack, Barcelona are capable of scoring a hatful of goals but they will almost certainly give up chances if they go all out. Goals are almost certainly on the cards at Camp Nou on Wednesday night.

At 3/5, both teams to score doesn’t offer much value but it looks very likely. I’m expecting the French side to keep things tight early on and Barcelona will have to push at some stage of the contest. The Spanish side may win but PSG may bag a goal or two...

TIP: Both teams to score @ 3/5

At the time of writing, a £10 stake on this accumulator returns £110.88 – click here for more odds on European football...

In a footballing world seemingly dominated by Dembeles, it is Moussa who is most likely to move this summer. While Ousmane dazzles for Borussia Dortmund and France and Spurs’ own Mousa governs the middle third, Celtic’s Moussa has been scoring goals relentlessly.

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It was 32 in 49 for Dembele last season, following on from a goal-heavy season with Fulham in the Championship. Celtic’s brand of attacking football under Brendan Rodgers lit up the Scottish Premiership, and a 20 year old striking sensation was the brightest spark of all. His pace, sharp-minded movement and knack for producing the perfect final touch not only had Rodgers praising more than his character, but turned the heads of clubs across Europe.

While remaining with the Scottish champions is still at 6/4, Dembele’s future looks set to be south of the border. Everton lead the market at 3/4 as they continue a heavy-spending summer and look to reinforce their striking options in a post-Lukaku wasteland. The acquisition of Sandro Ramirez and constant rumours of a move for Olivier Giroud cast doubt over Dembele’s potential move to Goodison Park, but Everton are one of the few clubs who could stump up the intimidating transfer fee and offer regular minutes.

Could Everton be a bargain at 7/2 to sign Michy Batshuayi?

Ronald Koeman cannot afford to go into this season without multiple striking options in light of Lukaku’s departure. Dembele offers the same frightening pace and has the talent to be the difference between treading water in seventh and making the top six breakthrough that the Toffees really crave.

Following Everton in the peloton are AC Milan. As the Italian giants look to build a squad to take them back to where they belong, their spending has been as extravagant as Everton’s. The two clubs with the most successful summers to date could do battle for Dembele, particularly if Milan miss out on Andrea Belotti and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – who they are rumoured to be close to signing. While a move to the San Siro would perhaps appeal more to the Frenchman, the odds of 13/2 are reflective of a fair bit of scepticism in this rumour.

At 7/1, the prospect of joining his namesake at Borussia Dortmund is a fair outside bet. As mentioned, Aubameyang is on his way out and Dembele would be joining the most talented young squad in the world. With a Champions League campaign coming up, however, the German club may well look to a more established name to replace the Gabon international.

Get Arsenal at 5/1 to sign Anthony Martial this summer

A clutch of the Premier League’s top six remain in contention, too. Liverpool (20/1), Spurs (20/1), Arsenal (25/1) and Manchester United (33/1) are all pretty improbable for varying reasons, but Chelsea (14/1) are worth consideration. Similarly affected by the Lukaku chaos and with Diego Costa leaving soon, the Blues’ striker desperation has grown to crisis levels.

Dembele might not be ready to fill Costa’s boots, but the Stamford Bridge club may see him as a rotation option with Michy Batshuayi and another number nine.

While the Everton move would make most sense for Dembele in the short term, Chelsea at a price of 14/1 looks very generous given Michael Emenalo and Antonio Conte’s dearth of options.

The annual feasting for relegated teams’ best players is well underway. Joshua Tymon has joined Stoke City, Andrew Robertson is on his way out of Hull and Jordan Pickford was quickly plucked by Everton.

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Middlesbrough slumped into the Championship in unspectacular fashion last season. Aitor Karanka’s style of football brought no goals and – despite a seemingly good start to the campaign – they were doomed from the early weeks of 2017. Karanka stayed longer than the club should have allowed, but it was perhaps the most disappointing relegation of the three. Boro went down without a whimper.

The standout players, as a result, were few and far between. The midfield was dominated by noble industry, the attack brought measly returns. The defence, however, was impressive on the odd occasion. The challenge, though, is whether that was a result of the system of individual form.

Riyad Mahrez at 4/1 to still be a Leicester player in September

One player touted to retain Premier League status is Ben Gibson. Whoever his partner was at the heart of Boro’s defence, Gibson was an image of calm. He commanded the back line, and showed the ability to control some of the league’s best players in one-on-one duels.

The potential suitors have been varied. Though staying at Middlesbrough remains the market leader at 33/100, Leicester City sit at a tempting 4/1 to add the English central defender to their squad before the window closes. The Foxes have only this week completed the signing of Vicente Iborra and could be set to spend heavily as they look to avoid another brush with relegation that triggered the sacking of Claudio Ranieri last season.

The acquisition of Harry Maguire does make the 4/1 price look a little short, unless Craig Shakespeare will be completely overhauling a back line that won the title marginally over a year ago.

Any other club being in the reckoning for Gibson looks unlikely at this point. Tottenham at 12/1, Liverpool at 16/1 and Chelsea at 20/1 have all been linked with Boro’s rock in the past, but all have seemingly identified other targets this summer.

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Of the three, Spurs are the team I can envisage making a move for Gibson, mind. Kevin Wimmer is on his way out of the club, and depth is certainly required for the Lilywhites to maintain a challenge on all three fronts, whether it be with a back three or a back four.

The concern over Gibson has to be about judging his adaptability. Although Middlesbrough’s defence was resolute for the majority of the season, Karanka’s outright safety-first approach clearly aided that. Calum Chambers’ good form for much of the campaign cannot go unnoticed, either, and the deep block that Boro opted for meant that Gibson seldom had to defend high up the pitch. Whether he moved to Liverpool, Chelsea or Spurs, Gibson would be required to defend in a vastly different way to how he was asked at the Riverside.

It could turn out to be a perfect signing – and working with Mauricio Pochettino has brought out the best in many players – but it looks like a banana skin ready to be slipped on in cartoon fashion by a top six club.

On the other hand, should Leicester want a new partner for Maguire, Gibson might be the best option around.

Monaco’s free-flowing, exuberant football captured imaginations at will last season. Their heartbreak in the Champions League semi-final was a bitter reminder that romanticism is not enough in football. The hardest reminder of all, though, is how the French champions are witnessing their exceptionally talented squad being picked apart by the hyenas, predominantly from the Premier League.

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Benjamin Mendy is destined to leave, Bernardo Silva already has, Thomas Lemar is part of a north London tug of war, Tiemoue Bakayoko is set to be confirmed in a matter of days, while Kylian Mbappe is being flirted with by a clutch of the world’s richest clubs. Monaco’s accounts will be looking rosy come September, but their league winning squad will be barely recognisable.

Fabinho was the lynchpin of that team. Whether filling in at right-back or running the show alongside Bakayoko in midfield, his presence was calming like no other. He protected a defence that was far from watertight and distributed the ball with unerring accuracy.

The natural result of being exceptional in a successful team, who are considered below the top echelon of European football, is widespread transfer interest. Fabinho has been linked to half of Europe’s top clubs this summer, and a move seems no closer to being confirmed than it was a month ago.

Manchester United remain odds on favourites for Monaco’s star at 7/25. This price, however, may well lengthen shortly with Nemanja Matic apparently destined for Old Trafford. Signing the pair is not off the cards given the shortcomings of Jose Mourinho’s midfield, but it would be rather extravagant even for United.

Remaining in Ligue 1 is still a significant option for Fabinho, mind. Currently at 7/2 to join Paris Saint Germain and 8/1 to remain on the luxurious south coast, reports in France have suggested that Paris are the current frontrunners for Fabinho. He would fit into the team perfectly given the failings of Grzegorz Krychowiak and apparent decline of Blaise Matuidi, but Monaco might drive the price yet higher for a club in their league. It’s a good bet as far as I can tell, it’s at a longish price and the Matic news of the last couple of days surely lessens the Red Devils’ desire for Fabinho.

The alternatives in this market are a little trickier to judge. Manchester City’s interest has seemingly cooled as their pursuit of a defensive midfielder quietens, but Fabinho’s ability to cover as a right-back could tempt Pep Guardiola should their attempts to sign Kyle Walker take a turn. At 10/1, though, it’s not a bet offering much value right now.

The dark horses in the market are Juventus at 20/1. With Max Allegri looking to add to his squad after coming within 90 minutes of a treble, Fabinho could be the man to reassure a midfield that has lost Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal in recent seasons. The fear for the Old Lady, however, is that they will not be able to compete with PSG or the two Manchester clubs financially.

This is a saga that could prove definitive for several clubs, and one that will rumble on for a few weeks yet. Bet here: https://www.888sport.com/football/football-betting.htm#/filter/football/specials/transfers

Arda Turan’s dream move to Barcelona has been dire. Having had to sit out six months from first team action because of their transfer ban, Turan’s role as squad player has bordered on irrelevance. In his two seasons with the Catalan giants, Turan has started a mere 23 La Liga games and made a solitary start in the Champions League.

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Youngsters have displaced him, and his role in the side has been minimal. Neither able to step into the Neymar and Lionel Messi shaped holes in the team or play as a transitional passer in the middle three, Turan has been lost. When Luis Enrique opted for a 3-4-3, Turan’s role was further diminished and his place on the bench became all the more certain.

Despite rumours circulating around Europe and his cemented position on the fringes at the Camp Nou, Turan’s most likely team come the end of the window is supposedly Barcelona at 1/2. The markets (which can be found here: https://www.888sport.com/football/football-betting.htm#/filter/football/specials/transfers) expect Turan to remain with the Catalan club, but that might yet be because no clubs have expressed firm interest.

Second favourites to sign the 30-year-old Turk are Arsenal. Residing at 7/4 currently, the Gunners could be tempted to move for an experienced head with Alexis Sanchez rumoured to be following in the footsteps of Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Adebayor by joining Manchester City.

Turan is a signing that would hardly fit the profile of Arsenal’s typical acquisitions and would still struggle for a place in the starting line-up. In a 3-4-3 he would be no more than a backup to Mesut Ozil, while in a 4-2-3-1 he would face fierce competition to slot into the forward line. It’s a deal – especially given the expected wages – that makes little sense for player or club. The price is okay, but not one that would have me rushing to back it.

The pick of this market for me is Inter. Along with their city rivals, Inter are embarking on a summer of spending to make a charge at Juventus’ Serie A dominance. The club is desperate to reaffirm itself as a destination for Europe’s biggest names and signing a player – albeit an outcast – from Barcelona is a means of doing just that. Turan’s style of play would be well suited to Italian football too. At 15/1 this has to be a bet for consideration, even though Inter could be shackled by financial fair play this summer.

Joining the 2010 Champions League winners at 15/1 are Monaco. The French champions will have an attacking midfield requirement with Bernardo Silva already departed and Thomas Lemar likely to follow him out the door, but Turan’s lack of minutes over the last 18 months and age make links to the French club bizarre. Their recent success has been built on buying young and making profit, this is a deal that I just cannot see happening.

Liverpool at 20/1 is similarly improbable. Their attacking resources are deep and varied, and Turan would again be left to watch from the dugout. The only feasible chance of this happening is a longshot swap deal with Philippe Coutinho.

One other option to consider, mind, is a move to China at 8/1. Given the stage of his career and the riches on offer in the far east, Turan could be tempted to leave the guaranteed medals of the Camp Nou for stardom in Beijing or Shanghai.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s tax-related headlines and supposed desire to leave Spain have made rumours of a Gareth Bale transfer seem rather petty. It is symbolic of Bale’s time in the Spanish capital really, with the Welshman even in the shadow of the former Manchester United man when it comes to deciding their respective futures.

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Bale has suffered another injury-dominated season, with his place in Zinedine Zidane’s line-up doubtful even when fully fit. The belated uprising of Isco and tactical preferences of the French manager have seen Bale cast into a role of galactico outcast.

That is a role fulfilled by some of the sport’s all-time greats. Currently it is James Rodriguez who stakes first claim to it, but Bale could quickly follow into the slot of bench warming square peg. Zidane has shown a willingness to ignore price tags and personality in creating the most efficient – if at times uninteresting – team. That approach keeps Bale away from any preferential treatment, even if he once wore the tag of the world’s most expensive player.

He could, of course, become the most expensive player again should he move this summer. His injuries have clouded his reputation somewhat, but the Welshman has also been the key man in multiple final victories. In fact, his humiliation of Marc Bartra alone is worth £200 million.

The two favourites to make a swoop for Bale this summer are Paris Saint Germain and Manchester United. Both clubs sit at 6/1 currently, reflecting the uncertainty in the market. More will become clear into July and once Real Madrid’s transfer plans are obvious. Jose Mourinho’s side are desperate to make a splash this summer and match the inevitable investment from Manchester City – who are way out at 20/1 to sign Bale.

Where Bale would fit at United is not all that clear, with Juan Mata, Anthony Martial, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Marcus Rashford already jostling for position, while another striker arriving is highly likely. Should they once again go for the show-stopping signing, however, that will be sorted once they’ve enjoyed the publicity of building their very own all-star team.

PSG need to prove to Marco Verratti they can compete with the four European elite sides after the Champions League embarrassment this season and certainly have room for Bale in their own forward line. Whether Bale would be willing to play in the supposedly inferior Ligue 1 is a rather substantial elephant in the betting market, mind.

Chelsea are at longer odds of 8/1 with 888 Sport at the moment. Antonio Conte’s side have greater concerns than adding a forward of Bale’s expense, but the Blues could be lured into a bidding war once the Premier League financial chest-beating kicks off.

For those with a romantic – and highly unrealistic – side, Bale is at 33/1 to return to Tottenham this summer. Given Daniel Levy’s bitterly tight pursestrings and the burden of their stadium move, that transfer has roughly a 0% chance this year.