The Premier League could have as many as nine teams in Europe next season if Leicester City and West Ham win their respective European titles.
The pair are both just two games away from a European final and have a golden opportunity to win a piece of silverware this season.
The Hammers secured their spot in the Europa League semi-final with an impressive 3-0 win over Lyon (4-1 on aggregate) while Brendan Rodgers' men completed a brilliant comeback win over PSV Eindhoven to seal a place in the semi-final of the Europa Conference League.
And there are plenty of permutations in terms of English teams qualifying for Europe next season if both can go all the way in the competition.
Domestically, the Premier League has six places up for grabs (four Champions League, one Europa League and one Europa Conference League) but if West Ham and Leicester win their respective European titles - without qualifying for Europe domestically - there would be a pair of additional spots opened up for English clubs.
It's important to note that Leicester and West Ham's efforts in Europe will not impact any club that books their qualification by means of league finish and there are no extra spots - or bumping up a spot - if either finish in the top-six, as well as winning their respective European tournament.
Essentially, a team gets the place they earn and no club can gain from another's performance in Europe.
West Ham have fallen away in the top-four race towards the end of the season with Tottenham and Arsenal ahead of them in the table, but winning the Europa League would secure them a Champions League spot next season which means five teams could potentially enter Europe's flagship tournament. Leicester would qualify for the Europa League next term by lifting the Europa Conference League.
Since Leicester are currently sitting ninth in the league, they are unlikely to finish inside the top six so if they win the Conference League, there is a good chance there will be at least one extra Premier League team in Europe. But West Ham's current league position means an eighth spot is not a given.
If the Hammers win the Europa League, but finish sixth (their current position) or higher that doesn't open an extra Europa League or Europa Conference League spot for the team who finishes below them in sixth or seventh. If West Ham finishes in sixth, as well as winning the Europa League, there wouldn't be an English club representing the Conference League.
The ninth spot only comes into play if Crystal Palace win the FA Cup as they play in their semi-final clash against Chelsea on Sunday. If Patrick Vieira's side seals glory at Wembley, they will qualify for the Europa League group stages.
If the FA Cup winners are Liverpool, Manchester City or Chelsea, the Europa League place will go to the next-highest ranked team not qualified for Europe in the Premier League.
