Back in the summer of 2017 Arsenal were heavily linked with a move for Jadon Sancho before he left for Germany and now Arsene Wenger has confirmed he did indeed try to sign the player.

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 13: Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund looks on during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on February 13, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 13: Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund looks on during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on February 13, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Sancho was unconvinced he could break through to the first team at Manchester City with Raheem Sterling and Leory Sane ahead of him and he was reportedly considering a move to Arsenal before Borussia Dortmund got involved.

“(Sancho’s) is an incredible story because the pressure now on these young boys from an early age is very big,” Wenger said.

“The second thing, is the pressure from all the clubs – I say that freely because I wanted to take him from Manchester City when he was not getting the games.

“I tried to lure him, because he was from London, I tried to get him to Arsenal.”

If reports from the time are correct, City refused to let the player speak to any clubs in England.

Still only 18, Sancho is rated at £63m. He cost the Bundesliga side just £7m.

He has seven goals and 11 assists in 21 Bundesliga appearances this season as well as three full England caps.

After yet another goal for Borussia Dortmund at the weekend, Jadon Sancho spoke to the Daily Mail about a number of topics, including Reiss Nelson and the upcoming game against Tottenham Hotspur.

by Dan Critchlow [12 February, 2019]

Reiss Nelson (Photo via Twitter / ReissNelson9)
Reiss Nelson (Photo via Twitter / ReissNelson9)

Nelson and Sancho are close friends, but they had to face up against each other on the pitch on Saturday, as Hoffenheim took on Dortmund in the Bundesliga. Although Sancho opened the scoring as the home side raced into a 3-0 lead, Hoffenheim fought back for a draw after Nelson’s introduction from the bench.

Speaking in Tuesday’s Daily Mail, Sancho explained how he and the Arsenal academy graduate became friends.

“We go way back,” he said. “I first met Reiss when I was playing for Watford. We used to play each other in Southwark youth games. That’s how we got really close. We always used to link up and do little things – go to the cages, kick a ball with our friends.”

Daily Mail
Daily Mail / 12th February 2019

Now, Sancho has the chance to do the Arsenal man a favour by eliminating The Gunners’ local rivals Tottenham Hotspur from the Champions League. Dortmund face Spurs on Wednesday night, and the young winger admits he’s already been speaking to some of his opponents about the game, who he knows through his international duties.

“There were a few conversations after the Champions League draw with me, Dele Alli and Harry (Winks), saying ‘see you soon’ and ‘it’s going to be a good match’. He feels they’re going to win. We feel we’re going to win.

“We have improved from last season (when Spurs beat Dortmund in the group stage), so it won’t be the same match as last year. It will be more difficult for them, especially as they have big players missing out.”

Hopefully, Sancho is right, and by the end of the second leg next month Tottenham’s trophy dreams will be in tatters for yet another year.