Osimhen vs Marmoush and Jackson: Why Tottenham face a major striker decision

Tottenham Hotspur have a clear choice to make before the summer transfer window closes, Afrik-Foot reports.

They can follow Toby Alderweireld’s advice and push hard for Barcelona-linked Victor Osimhen, or trust a different plan for Roberto De Zerbi’s new attack.

The former Spurs defender believes Osimhen, who is also wanted by Al Hilal, is the type of striker Tottenham need if they want to challenge Arsenal for the Premier League title.

Yet the latest information from transfer expert Fabrizio Romano points in another direction. Tottenham are considering Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush and Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson, with no confirmation of an Osimhen move.

That difference matters because Tottenham are trying to rebuild after a difficult 2025/26 season. De Zerbi arrived in March and helped the club avoid relegation after taking charge with seven league games left. The Italian has since overseen a major squad rebuild.

Alderweireld’s Osimhen argument

Alderweireld’s message is simply that Tottenham need goals. The Belgian, who spent six seasons at Spurs, believes Osimhen can provide them.

“Spurs could use a striker like Victor Osimhen, they need his goals because it’s what they lacked last season as well,” Alderweireld said in interview with Hajper as per Goal.

“The only concern for clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United is maybe his age. He’s not the youngest player anymore and it seems like everyone wants to find a 23-year-old superstar who can bang in goals for the next seven or eight years, and I understand that, but you also need a good mix.”

His argument goes beyond the Nigerian’s finishing. Alderweireld accepts that Osimhen, who could also be heading to Arsenal, is not the young striker some clubs want to build around for the next seven or eight years. But he believes a title-chasing squad needs a mix of proven players and young talent.

He used his Ajax experience as the example. Dusan Tadic and Daley Blind provided experience while Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt developed around them.

“That’s why it can be important to sign proven players who know how things go so they can bring on the younger, potential superstars alongside them, because they can set the best example,” he explained.

“I think about my time at Ajax. The mix was on another level. We had Dusan Tadic and Daley Blind and Frenkie De Jong and Matthijs de Ligt coming through. That’s what you need.”

That model fits Tottenham’s current squad. Spurs have already added experienced players such as Andy Robertson and Sandro Tonali, while Mateus Fernandes and other younger players form part of the rebuild. The club says the transfer work is still not finished.

Osimhen would add something different: a proven centre forward who can turn pressure and chances into goals.

That could change De Zerbi’s attacking options. The manager wants Tottenham to build a strong team with quality, experience and ambition. Osimhen would give him a striker whose movement, speed and finishing can stretch Premier League defences.

The Nigerian has also started the new campaign strongly. He scored twice in Galatasaray’s opening league match against Çorum.

Why Spurs may choose Marmoush and Jackson instead

Tottenham’s reported alternatives tell a different story. Romano says Omar Marmoush and Nicolas Jackson are options, while he has no confirmation of an Osimhen move.

Marmoush offers more than a traditional centre-forward role. Manchester City used him centrally and on the left during 2025/26. He made 36 appearances, scored eight goals and supplied three assists. Jackson offers another option in attack and could fit a Spurs side that wants movement and pressure from its forwards.

There is also a financial question. Osimhen is a major investment, while Tottenham may prefer to spread their spending across several positions after already investing heavily in the squad.

Tottenham have added quality across the team, but a title challenge needs a reliable scorer. If De Zerbi wants to move Spurs from survival last season to a serious battle with Arsenal, Osimhen could provide the clearest answer.

Tottenham’s recruitment team, however, appears to be looking at Marmoush and Jackson instead. The decision could define whether this rebuild is about becoming competitive again, or trying to compete at the top immediately.