Arsenal and West Ham United will guarantee a fifth Champions League spot for Premier League teams if they eliminate their German opposition in the next fortnight.
The Gunners play Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final, while the Hammers face Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League last eight.
If they both win across two legs, it would create an unassailable lead for English clubs over their Bundesliga counterparts in the UEFA coefficient race.
That would all but confirm an extra Premier League spot for next season’s revamped Champions League.
The competition is being expanded from 32 to 36 clubs, with two of the additional spots given to the domestic leagues with the two highest rankings.