By Tim Stannard

1) Spanish press report new Madrid deal for Bale to 2021

It looks increasingly like Real Madrid’s big transfer window wonders are going to involve players that already have. Marcos Asensio and Alvaro Morata were “presented” last week and on Tuesday, Spanish sports daily ‘Marca’ is reporting that the currently hot-to-trot Gareth Bale is to extend his current deal with Real Madrid until 2021.

Cristiano Ronaldo will be following in September, probably when team hits a patch of rocky form and needs something to grab the headlines. Catch all the latest on the Bale-in on the XTRA from 7PM ET.

Meanwhile, Madrid are still stuck with Norwegian ‘starlet’ Martin Odegaard. A deal with Ligue Un outfit, Rennes, is off after Madrid were concerned with breaching further FIFA regulations due to his age, with a transfer ban of two windows already looming.

2) Claudio Bravo jets in to Manchester for medical  

Claudio Bravo is due in Manchester on Tuesday to begin the process of easing his way into the Manchester City set up after leaving Barcelona. A medical is expected to take place within the next 48 hours. Meanwhile Joe Hart is reportedly going to be staying at City even though the England number one is likely to be third choice under Pep Guardiola. Tune into the XTRA at 7PM ET for the latest transfer news and gossip.

It’s good to be ambitious. That’s what SB is told repeatedly by its bosses, but to deaf ears. The president of Argentinean outfit, Newell’s Old Boys has made a call for Leo Messi to join his boyhood club after the 2018 World Cup when the Barcelona player will be 31. “Imagine a game in the Colosso with Messi, with the world’s press and the sponsors that would come,” yelled Cristian D’Amico with dollar signs in his eyes.

3) Liverpool face giant-killer threat in EFL Cup

 Jurgen Klopp has said that he hopes to remain as Liverpool boss for many centuries to come. If that’s the case, then the German coach is going to have to get used to the fun of the football media that simply can’t make head nor tail out of the Anfield club this season. To be fair, it’s only been a week. However, it was a seven days that saw a win against Arsenal and a defeat to Burnley.

The latest challenge awaits live on beIN SPORTS on Tuesday in the EFL Cup – formally the Capital One Cup – with Liverpool visiting Championship side Burton Albion, fronted by Nigel Clough, son of Brian. Kick off from 2.40PM ET / 11.40AM PT. Don’t be tardy!

4) Roma and Porto fight to save Champions League dreams

The Champions League qualifying rounds complete this week. Five matches steam into the port called ‘drama’ on Tuesday headed by Roma taking on Porto in a clash that is 1-1 from the first leg. Villarreal have an awful lot of work to do from their away clash against Monaco, with the Yellow Submarines firmly torpedoed 2-1 in the first leg.

The good people of Canada will be able to catch the Roma clash at 2.45PM ET / 11.45AM PT as well as Irish outfit Dundalk’s valiant attempt to reach the CL group stages against Legia Warsaw.

5) Russia banned from Rio Paralympics as Phelps wins Facebook war

Russia will not be competing at the Rio Paralympics after the Court for Arbitration in Sport upheld a ban imposed by the International Paralympic Committee on all competitors for state-sponsored doping.

Those all important social media statistics have been published around the Rio Games. Facebook reports 277 million people around the globe having 1.5 billion interactions on the Olympics. Swimming and Michael Phelps were the top sport and athlete commented on around the world. Which is pretty much America in terms of people glued to their smart phones.

WHAT IS SPORTS BURST?

The life philosophy of Sports Burst is that if you are not upsetting someone, then you are not trying hard enough. SB is a daily trawl and troll through the morning's sports news to bring you fact-nuggets to make you both smile and swear. Hopefully at the same time.