Sancho to Utd, Aouar to Arsenal: Last year's summer transfer sagas re-examined

The 2020 summer transfer window was unforgettable for many reasons, including Chelsea's £250million spending spree, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the numerous sagas which failed to come to fruition.

Manchester United and Liverpool both ultimately had busy windows, as did Arsenal, however they, like most of the top teams in the Premier League, failed to land their top targets.

In this series, we've decided to reflect on some of the biggest deals which failed to come to fruition despite months of speculation.

We'll detail what happened to mean the deal never happened, what's happened since for both parties and whether the deal could be revisited in the future.

Today, we're looking at Jadon Sancho's move from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester United and Houssem Aouar to Arsenal.

They were two of the biggest deals on the table in 2020, but ultimately neither of which came to fruition.

Jadon Sancho to Manchester United

Jadon Sancho to Manchester United was one of the biggest transfer sagas in recent years, and it seemed inevitable that he'd start the 2020-21 Premier League season playing at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils were, by all accounts, desperate to sign him and wanted to do whatever they could to make a move happen.

However, Borussia Dortmund have a reputation for being fierce negotiators and very rarely these days settle for less than their valuation of their player, as United would find out.

So what went wrong?

The financial restraints imposed on the club by the coronavirus pandemic meant they couldn't pay enough to meet Borussia Dortmund's demands - despite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's earlier claims that United could take advantage of the situation with their financial muscle.

The Bundesliga side were adamant throughout the window that only a payment of £108million would be enough for them to sell, and that they wouldn't accept instalments.

That made things difficult for United, who believed right up until the last minute that they'd be able to sign the English wonderkid winger for a discounted fee.

Dortmund chiefs set a deadline of August 10th for the deal to get over the line, a deadline United chose to ignore.

It was reported that Old Trafford officials were left stunned after Dortmund director Michael Zorc confirmed on August 10 that United had missed out on Sancho until 2021 at the earliest. Seemingly, they'd never felt it was a serious deadline.

After a long summer consisting of failed transfer bids, United accepted at the last minute that they'd be unable to secure a deal, and started scrambling around for an alternative.

What's happened since?

A deal for Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele was mooted and fell through as he didn't want to leave Spain, and in the end Amad was signed in a deal potentially rising to £37m.

United's interest is now said to have cooled, partly due to Amad and also the emergence of Mason Greenwood, who can flourish on the right wing due to his ability to use both feet.

While Dortmund are reported to have lowered their asking price slightly, United will only make a move if they feel the deal makes sense financially.

Sancho's form dropped in the immediate aftermath of the deal collapsing, and he made a slow start to the current Bundesliga season - which was turbulent to say the least at the Westfalenstadion - while admitting he found it tough to play amid so much speculation.

But he seems to have rediscovered his confidence since, and has scored six goals in 10 Bundesliga games since the turn of the year, as well as adding another six assists and recently making history.

Should the deal be revisited?

Despite not signing a new winger for the first team, United have shone this season and have scored more goals than any other side - except champions-to-be Manchester City - even amid their current goalless run.

They also threatened to mount a title challenge before stumbling and watching Pep Guardiola's side run away with the league.

So while it would be hard to argue that they made a mistake in refusing to pay what would have been a club-record to sign Sancho last summer, they will likely have the chance to do so for less this year - if they want to.

If United want to be title challengers again next season and press the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool - once the current champions have recovered from their injury crisis - they'll need significant reinforcements. Their record against their 'Big Six' rivals proves as much.

Signing Sancho wouldn't damage Mason Greenwood's development, as the young Englishman can play through the middle - where many see him heading long term. Amad, too, is still young and perhaps not ready to play consistently at the top level.

But United will need strength in numbers next season, and signing more talent up front will allow them to ease the burden on Bruno Fernandes.

If Ed Woodward can convince Dortmund into reducing their asking price, even slightly, this summer, then he should jump at the chance to sign the England international.

Houssem Aouar to Arsenal

Arsenal had a peculiar summer transfer window last year, as they looked to rebuild the squad in Mikel Arteta's first pre-season as manager.

After a backroom reshuffling, Arteta was promoted from head coach to manager. Therefore, he subsequently took a more active role in transfer affairs and was keen to add a new creative midfielder.

With Mesut Ozil on his way out - albeit not until January - Arsenal made someone who could add more incision to their play a priority.

Lyon midfielder Houssem Aoaur quickly emerged as their prime target, with the Frenchman one of the brightest talents in Europe.

The youngster was said to be interested in making the move to the Emirates, but stopped short of forcing a move away from Lyon, for whom he shone en route to last season's Champions League semi-finals.

So what went wrong?

Arsenal were determined to sign Aouar throughout the window, but remained unwilling to meet Lyon's £54m asking price - knowing that they were going to meet Thomas Partey's release clause to take him from Atletico Madrid.

There were suggestions that Aouar was determined to join, even claims that he had agreed terms on a contract if the clubs could agree a fee.

However, Lyon knew there would be interest from other clubs down the line, and decided against settling.

Juventus are long time admirers, as is Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola - both clubs are said to be interested in moving for him this summer again.

Arsenal made offers that didn't meet OL's asking price, and ultimately, no deal was forthcoming.

What's happened since?

Arsenal ultimately decided against meeting Lyon's asking price. Instead Dani Ceballos returned on loan again and Partey was the marquee arrival.

However, the new signing's debut season in the Premier League hasn't exactly gone to plan. He has been plagued by injuries, and has only started nine Premier League games as a result.

Having been keen to show himself as more than just a defensive midfielder - something he believes he was pigeonholed as playing under Diego Simeone - Partey is yet to score for the club and has only provided one assist in the league.

Should the deal be revisited?

Arsenal waited until the January transfer window before signing a new playmaker, and brought in Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid on loan.

The Gunners are unlikely to sign the Norwegian wonderkid in the summer however, with Los Blancos seemingly unwilling to cash in, and will therefore be in the exact same situation as last summer.

For Aouar there will again be interest this summer and Lyon will again not let him go cheap.

Arsenal will no doubt recognise this has been a disastrous campaign if they aren't able to secure European football, and there remains a need for a top-level creative midfielder; Emile Smith Rowe is a fine long-term option and is developing but Arteta needs improvements.

Aouar's price may well go up this summer after another solid campaign however, and Arteta will need to decide with Edu whether going big for the Frenchman is a risk worth taking.