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.

Get 33/1 on Gareth Bale to return to Spurs this summer

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.