Tottenham plan to match Arsenal spending after £250m reveal
Tottenham decided against backing Thomas Frank significantly in the January transfer window despite their struggles on the pitch.
Tottenham signed midfielder Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid for around £35million and Brazilian left-back Souza from Santos for £13m, while striker James Wilson joined on loan from Hearts.
In an interview posted on Tottenham’s YouTube channel on 4 February, sporting director Johan Lange insisted Spurs will be more active in the summer transfer window.
However, after Frank’s sacking was confirmed on Wednesday (11 February), it will be a new manager leading the north London giants by time the market opens again.
How Tottenham plan to increase spending
Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider he expects Tottenham to increase their spending on wages as they look to close the gap on the clubs competing at the top of the Premier League table.
Deloitte’s 2026 Money League has revealed Spurs’ wage bill increased from £222million in 2023-24 to £249m last season.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s wage bill surged to £421m as they lifted the Premier League title, with Man City spending £408m and Arsenal’s total reaching £338m.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider about Tottenham’s spending plans, Borson said: “I think you only get rid of Levy if you think that you’ve been too restrained both in wages and football spend.
“I think that it’s very likely that we see a new phase and you have to judge it not just on one window but on a series of windows, maybe six windows, eight windows. But I would think over the next few years you will see Spurs increasing their average spend on players coming in and on the wage bill.
“I would think the wage bill over the next few years will get closer and closer to City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea. Manchester United are actually going the other way, but depending on what happens with the Champions League, then they may start to go up again.”
Why Tottenham are struggling to close gap on top clubs
Borson insisted Tottenham are unable to compete towards the top end of the Premier League with a wage bill of around £250m.
“I think you’ll see Spurs effectively pulling away from the Newcastle and Aston Villa block, as we now have, and more towards the other five of the big six,” said Borson.
“I just don’t think you can operate as a Champions League club and a Premier League challenger with a wage bill of £250m total. It just doesn’t work. It’s just not enough. Your squad is too small.
“The players that you’re acquiring, you have to have so many outsized hits in terms of your transfer spend. It just doesn’t work that way.”
Meanwhile, Tottenham decided to sack Frank after their 2-1 defeat against Newcastle United saw them slip to 16th in the Premier League table.
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