The goldilocks factor favours the A400M - C-17 ... Too much aircraft for quite a lot of tasks, C-130 not quite big enough these days (internal width) ... A400M - just right for modern military loads ... (Still unproven, specially the engines ...).
Watch Marshalls at Cambridge for news of ground run progress - and getting the poor old Herc flying - and then the joy at Seville when at last they're cleared to get all four engines flying together in formation on the A400M.
P L U S ... The A400M's not from Boeing ... 'nuff said.