Tottenham Hotspur have received fresh encouragement in their pursuit of Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen after the Nigerian reportedly turned down Galatasaray's offer to become the club's permanent captain, Soccernet.ng reports.
The North London side recently made an opening move to sign the 27-year-old, with reports from CaughtOffside and Turkish transfer expert Ekrem Konur claiming Tottenham submitted a verbal offer worth between £50 million and £55 million.
Galatasaray are unwilling to sell at that price and are believed to be demanding a fee closer to £65 million after completing Osimhen's permanent transfer from Napoli earlier this year.
Despite the gap in valuation, Spurs are pushing ahead with plans to strengthen Roberto De Zerbi's attack before the summer transfer window closes.
Reports suggest Tottenham have already received internal approval to continue negotiations, while personal terms are not expected to become a stumbling block. Barcelona-linked Osimhen is also understood to be interested in hearing De Zerbi's plans for the club.
Tottenham's urgency has increased because of uncertainty surrounding Richarlison's future, with the club keen to bring in a proven goalscorer capable of leading the attack.
Manchester United, Chelsea and Atlético Madrid are also keeping a close watch on Osimhen's situation, but Tottenham now appear to have received an important boost.
Osimhen rejects Galatasaray captaincy offer
Galatasaray had hoped to convince Osimhen to stay by offering him the club's permanent captaincy for the 2026-27 season following Mauro Icardi's departure.
However, the Nigeria international reportedly rejected the proposal because he did not want to commit his long-term future to the Turkish champions while Premier League opportunities remain available.
According to Turkish journalist Savas Corlu, “From what I've heard, Osimhen didn't accept the role of first captain at Galatasaray.”
The decision is reflected in a notable incident during Galatasaray's 3-3 pre-season draw against French club Rennes at the Ali Sami Yen Sports Complex RAMS Park on Sunday.
Osimhen had already given Galatasaray the lead when he powered home a header from Gabriel Sara's corner.
Later in the match, regular captain Abdülkerim Bardakcı was substituted in the 74th minute and handed the captain's armband to Osimhen before leaving the pitch.
Instead of putting it on, Osimhen immediately walked over to Yunus Akgün and handed him the armband, suggesting the attacking midfielder should captain the team for the remainder of the game.
Akgün appeared surprised and tried to convince the Super Eagles striker to wear it, but Osimhen politely declined and insisted his teammate take the responsibility.
Interestingly, earlier this year, Osimhen also refused to wear the captain's armband after teammate İlkay Gündoğan tried to hand it to him during another match. At the time, he explained that his decision was based on humility and respect for more senior members of the squad.
Tottenham receive major encouragement
Osimhen's latest decision could be viewed as another sign that he remains focused on a move to the Premier League. Reports claim the striker has instructed his representatives to prioritise talks with English clubs. It is a stance that could strengthen Tottenham's hopes of completing a deal.
The striker has reportedly already given the green light to discussions over a move to North London and is said to be excited by the opportunity to work under De Zerbi. If Tottenham can reach an agreement with Galatasaray over the transfer fee, personal terms are not expected to delay negotiations.
Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk has previously made it clear that he wanted Osimhen to become one of the club's captains following Icardi's exit, but the Nigerian forward's latest actions suggest his focus remains firmly on securing his long-awaited move to the Premier League.
