Jadon Sancho to Manchester United was the transfer destined to happen even before the window opened in May.
The teenager was seemingly keen on a move back to Britain, Manchester United had money to spend, and hints were being dropped all over the place.
Perhaps the biggest came courtesy of Rio Ferdinand, who had a social media post expressing his desire to see Sancho in a Man United shirt re-tweeted by the man in question.
But as quickly as they came about, United's hopes of landing the hot prospect came crashing down when the club failed to qualify for the Champions League.
Borussia Dortmund, who obviously wanted to keep hold of the England international, suddenly found themselves in a position of power - and knew this.
A meeting was held between the two teams, as confirmed by the German club's sporting director Michael Zorc in the Inside Borussia Dortmund documentary series.
Fellow Dortmund chiefs Matthias Sammer, Sebastian Kehl and chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke were also involved in the meeting in which the Sancho to United transfer was discussed.
In it Zorc declared Sancho was not looking to leave Dortmund - presumably as the German's could offer him Champions League football - and that the club didn't want to sell.
Zorc said: "A hot topic right now is Sancho and Manchester United. Both his discussions with the club and mine with the consultants.
"A meeting did take place. Manchester United invited the consultant.
"But according to what I know, the consultant told the club that no matter how much money they offer, we won't let him go this summer
"But the player also has no intention of taking that step this summer."
Sancho netted twice in England's frenetic 5-3 win over Kosovo at St Mary's on Tuesday night.
The Three Lions had to come from behind in the Euro 2020 qualifying match, with Sancho scoring number four and five for England.
