Tottenham want Osimhen: 3 tough decisions Spurs must take to sign Super Eagles star

Tottenham Hotspur have tagged Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen a dream target as manager Roberto De Zerbi looks to transform the club’s attack ahead of the new Premier League season, Afrik-Foot reports.

Spurs admire the Atletico Madrid-linked Nigerian international but have not yet made official contact with Turkish champions Galatasaray over a transfer. Even so, Osimhen’s name has quickly been included in Tottenham’s summer plans after De Zerbi hinted that the club was chasing a high-profile “mystery” forward while also working on a move for Manchester City winger Savinho.

The interest is understandable. Tottenham struggled badly in front of goal last season despite having several recognised forwards. Richarlison, Mathys Tel and Randal Kolo Muani managed only 15 Premier League goals between them, while Dominic Solanke spent long periods on the sidelines through injury.

By contrast, Osimhen was in excellent form for Galatasaray in domestic and continental competitions. The 27-year-old scored 15 goals in just 22 Turkish Süper Lig matches after completing a permanent move from Napoli to Galatasaray in 2025. He also netted seven goals as the Lions reached the knockout rounds of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in over a decade.

However, signing Osimhen, who will be a perfect fit for the Premier League, will not be easy. Manchester United and Chelsea have both monitored his situation in recent transfer windows, although United’s interest has reportedly cooled because of the enormous financial commitment required. Galatasaray are also under no pressure to sell and are believed to value their star striker at around €140 million.

If Tottenham truly want to bring the Nigerian to North London, three major decisions could define whether the transfer becomes reality or remains another ambitious dream.

Daniel Levy must approve a €140 million offer that Galatasaray cannot refuse

The first challenge is simple but enormous: Tottenham must be prepared to spend like genuine title contenders. Galatasaray only signed Osimhen permanently from Napoli last year and have no financial need to sell him quickly. The Turkish champions know they possess one of Europe’s most complete centre-forwards and are expected to reject anything they consider below his true market value.

That means Spurs cannot rely on their usual strategy of lengthy negotiations filled with performance bonuses and delayed instalments. Instead, chairman Daniel Levy would likely need to approve a package worth close to €140 million, with a large percentage paid immediately in guaranteed money. Such a proposal would show Galatasaray that Tottenham are serious and reduce the Turkish club’s reasons for delaying or rejecting talks.

Anything significantly below that figure could leave Spurs watching rivals move ahead in the race.

Tottenham may have to break their wage policy for the first time

Money will not only be needed for the transfer fee. Osimhen is among the highest-paid strikers in world football and is unlikely to leave a comfortable situation in Istanbul for lower wages in England.

For years, Tottenham have operated one of the Premier League’s strictest salary structures. While that policy has helped control spending, it has also made it difficult to compete with clubs willing to reward elite players with massive contracts.

If Spurs truly believe Osimhen is the striker capable of changing their fortunes, they may have to abandon that long-standing approach. Offering him a marquee contract that makes him Tottenham’s highest-paid player would send a powerful message that the club are ready to compete with England’s biggest sides.

Without matching his financial expectations, convincing the Nigerian international to swap Galatasaray for North London could prove extremely difficult.

Spurs must sell attacking players to fund the deal and create space

Even if Tottenham can afford the transfer fee and wages, another difficult decision remains. The squad already contains several experienced attackers, and keeping all of them while signing Osimhen would place significant pressure on the club’s finances and squad balance.

Richarlison has struggled for consistency, Mathys Tel has yet to fully establish himself, while Dominik Solanke failed to provide the goal return many supporters expected. Together, they produced only 15 league goals last season despite receiving plenty of opportunities.

Selling at least two attacking players would help Tottenham in several ways. First, it would generate valuable transfer income. Second, it would reduce the club’s wage bill. Finally, it would guarantee Osimhen the undisputed first-choice striker role that a player of his quality would expect before agreeing to such a high-profile move.

If Spurs hesitate to reshape their squad, financing one of the biggest transfers in their history could become almost impossible.