Can Tottenham afford Victor Osimhen? Breaking down the numbers behind Spurs’ bold move

Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur have made a big transfer statement after opening talks over a move for Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen, Afrik-Foot reports.

Reports from CaughtOffside and transfer insider Ekrem Konur claim Spurs have informed intermediaries that they are willing to pay between £50 million and £55 million for the Super Eagles star. However, Turkish champions Galatasaray are standing firm and want more than £65 million before allowing their prized asset to leave.

The move comes just weeks before the start of the 2026-27 Premier League season, with new Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi eager to sign an elite goalscorer capable of leading his attack.

Osimhen, 27, enjoyed a remarkable campaign in Turkey, scoring 22 goals and providing 10 assists across all competitions as Galatasaray won another league title. His performances have also attracted interest from Manchester United, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid, meaning Spurs could face a fierce battle for his signature.

The biggest question, though, is not whether Tottenham want Osimhen, but whether they can actually afford him.

Why Tottenham have the financial strength to complete the deal

From the outside, a deal worth £65 million plus a salary reportedly close to £300,000 per week appears enormous. However, modern football finances work differently from how many fans imagine. Instead of recording the entire transfer fee in one season, Premier League clubs spread the cost over the player’s contract through a process known as amortisation.

If Osimhen, who is open to leaving Galatasaray, signs a five-year contract, Tottenham’s annual accounting cost would only amount to approximately £28.6 million. His £65m transfer fee, spread over five years, comes down to £13 million per year while his estimated wages of £300,000 per week only totals £15.6 million annually. That yearly figure is much easier for a club like Tottenham to absorb than paying the full £65 million immediately.

Financial experts also believe Spurs currently enjoy one of the healthiest financial positions in English football. The club generates more than £600 million in annual revenue, while keeping its wage bill at roughly 45-50% of income. That leaves significant room to add another high-earning player without immediately breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

Another major advantage is the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Although the club has recorded accounting losses in recent years, much of those losses come from stadium-related depreciation and infrastructure spending. Under PSR rules, many of these costs are excluded when calculating spending limits, giving Tottenham much greater flexibility than many supporters realise.

Reports from football finance analysts estimate Spurs still have hundreds of millions of pounds in available PSR headroom, making a move for Osimhen financially realistic.

Osimhen: The real obstacle may not be money

Even if Tottenham can comfortably finance the transfer, completing the deal remains far from straightforward. First, Galatasaray are under little pressure to negotiate. Osimhen remains tied to the Turkish champions until 2029, allowing them to reject offers they believe fall below his market value.

Secondly, chairman Daniel Levy has built a reputation as one of football’s toughest negotiators. While Tottenham have broken transfer records in recent years, Levy has also been careful about protecting the club’s wage structure. Offering Osimhen wages close to £300,000 per week would place him among Tottenham’s highest-paid players ever. Matching those demands could become a bigger challenge than paying the transfer fee itself.

The situation could become easier if Richarlison leaves North London before the transfer window closes. The Brazilian is entering the final year of his contract, and a sale would remove one of the club’s biggest salaries while generating additional transfer income.

Even if Galatasaray eventually raise their asking price well beyond £65 million, Tottenham’s commercial income, stadium revenue and healthy PSR position suggest they could still structure a deal.

Ultimately, the biggest hurdle is unlikely to be whether Spurs have the money. The decisive factor may be whether Daniel Levy is willing to meet Galatasaray’s valuation and break Tottenham’s traditional wage limits to bring arguably Africa’s finest striker to North London.