Spurs hijacked deal from United for Young Player of the Year ace by buying his family a house
Tottenham Hotspur have a storied history when it comes to transfer market drama, especially when it involves snatching players from under the noses of their rivals. While some of these attempts have ended in disappointment, others have become legendary within the football community. One such instance was the shocking hijacking of Paul Gascoigne, a move that still echoes in football history.
Tottenham’s experiences with hijacked transfers aren’t limited to just one or two incidents. Spurs fans still recall the bitter memories of missing out on Emmanuel Petit, who seemed destined for White Hart Lane before Arsenal swooped in at the last minute. Similarly, the saga of Willian, who was almost a Tottenham player before Chelsea hijacked the deal, remains a sore point for the club.
However, the tale of Tottenham turning the tables on their rivals, particularly Manchester United, is one that deserves a special mention. This was a time when Tottenham, under the shrewd leadership of chairman Irving Scholar, managed to pull off one of the most audacious transfer hijacks in football history.
In 1988, Paul Gascoigne was one of the most sought-after young talents in English football. The Newcastle United midfielder had just been named the PFA Young Player of the Year, and big clubs across Europe were vying for his signature. Manchester United, led by the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, was at the forefront of this race.
Gazza, as he was affectionately known, had even informed Ferguson that he would join Manchester United. Ferguson, confident that the deal was sealed, left for a holiday, believing that one of the brightest young talents in football was on his way to Old Trafford.
While Ferguson relaxed on his holiday, Spurs were working behind the scenes to change Gascoigne’s mind. Irving Scholar, Tottenham’s chairman at the time, knew that landing Gazza would be a significant coup for the club. To sweeten the deal, Scholar offered to buy Gascoigne’s family a house in the North East, a gesture that ultimately swayed the player’s decision.
But it wasn’t just a house that sealed the deal. Gazza’s father also requested a new car to go along with the house, and Tottenham obliged. To top it all off, the club even bought Gazza’s sister a sunbed. These extra perks convinced the young star to sign for Tottenham, leaving Ferguson and Manchester United in the lurch.
The news that Gascoigne had signed for Tottenham instead of Manchester United reached Ferguson while he was still on holiday. In an interview with the late journalist David Frost, Ferguson recalled the moment he received the call from Manchester United chairman Martin Edwards, informing him of Tottenham’s successful hijack.
“Off I go, and I’m lying by the pool when there is a Tannoy for me to take a call,” Ferguson explained. “It was Martin Edwards telling me Tottenham had signed him instead by buying Paul’s mum and dad a house in the north-east.”
The promise of a new home wasn’t enough, though. Gazza’s father also asked for a car, given that the new house had a garage. And, not wanting to be left out, Gazza’s sister received a sunbed from Tottenham as part of the deal.
Although Gascoigne’s decision to join Tottenham brought him short-term success, including an FA Cup win in 1991, he later expressed regret over not joining Manchester United. Gazza’s career, while illustrious, was marred by injuries and personal struggles, including a battle with alcoholism. Ferguson, reflecting on what might have been, believed that Manchester United could have provided the structure and discipline that Gascoigne needed.
“We could have taken London out of the road for him. We had Bobby Charlton, a Geordie. We had Bryan Robson, a Geordie,” Ferguson said, alluding to the support system that could have helped Gazza avoid some of the pitfalls he encountered.
Gascoigne’s career did eventually take him to Italy with Lazio, followed by successful stints with Rangers in Scotland and later Middlesbrough and Everton in the Premier League. However, his time at Tottenham, while filled with memorable moments, remains a bittersweet chapter in his life.
Tottenham’s successful hijack of Paul Gascoigne from Manchester United remains one of the most dramatic transfer stories in football history. It’s a tale that highlights the club’s ability to pull off unexpected moves in the transfer market, even against the biggest clubs.
While Gazza’s career might have taken a different path had he joined Manchester United, Tottenham’s bold move ensured that he became a Spurs legend, albeit one whose potential was never fully realized. This transfer hijack is a reminder of the high-stakes world of football transfers, where fortunes can change with a single decision.
As Tottenham continue to compete in the transfer market, fans will always look back on the summer of 1988 as a time when their club dared to take on the giants and won.
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