Ole Gunnar Solskjaer agreed to join Tottenham – but one intervention changed everything

Manchester United great Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could have altered the course of football history had he joined Tottenham after a deal was agreed almost 30 years ago

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was inches from joining Tottenham Hotspur at the peak of his powers before the plug was pulled. With the proposed move coming before their historic Treble-winning season, Manchester United may well have missed out on one of the most iconic results in the club's history had it gone ahead.

Saturday's meeting between United and Spurs may have taken on a very different meaning for Solskjaer in that alternate timeline. The two clubs are set to clash at Old Trafford following a fortnight-long international break.

Solskjaer, 53, had only been at Old Trafford for a couple of years when it emerged Spurs were interested in signing him. The two clubs had even signed off on a £5.5million agreement, more than triple the £1.5m United paid Molde to recruit him in 1996.

Sir Alex Ferguson's intervention proved critical, however, as he stepped in to remind Solskjaer just how much he valued him. The Norwegian went on to play a critical role in the 1999 Treble the following year, scoring in United's famous Champions League final comeback against Bayern Munich.

"Everything was agreed. The two clubs had signed and were just waiting for me," said Solskjaer in November 2010. "It was that close.

"The gaffer called me into his office and closed the door. He said the conversation was just going to be between the two of us. He told me I would be a big part of his squad and he didn't want me to go.

"If he had said all the best in your career, I would have gone. But he wanted me to stay and so I signed.

"Hopefully I paid back the £5.5million that had been agreed with Spurs. But it is strange now to look at that fax."

Needless to say Solskjaer certainly did justify the coach's decision to ignore the money and prioritise the player instead. Having arrived on English shores with fairly low expectations, Solskjaer made it a habit to overcome expectations at Old Trafford.

With Eric Cantona still the club's star centre-forward at United in 1996, Solskjaer wasn't expected to receive much playing time. Instead, he outscored the Frenchman in his debut campaign and bagged 18 Premier League goals.

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Solskjaer spent 11 years at Old Trafford, scoring 126 goals in 366 appearances across all competitions. He also won nine major trophies (including six Premier League crowns) and will always be considered a hero for his 1999 heroics at the Camp Nou.

Spurs did eventually land a United attacker after luring Teddy Sheringham back to the club on a free transfer in 2001. However, the north Londoners might have changed not only their trajectory but the entire European landscape had they got Solskjaer over the line 28 years ago.