Full Spurs wage bill revealed after summer transfer spend with $19.8m Levy issue

Tottenham news as full scale of Ange Postecoglou challenge becomes apparent with new wage figures.

Tottenham may not have completed every deal they wanted to in the summer window but Ange Postecoglou's squad overhaul has been impressive nonetheless.

Spurs were unable to find new clubs or deals that worked for all parties when it comes to Hugo Lloris, Eric Dier, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Giovani Lo Celso. It hasn't helped the new head coach much when it comes to trimming the squad but there has been a profound effect regardless.

Spurs have also taken a step towards cutting down the wage bill. Their estimated total salary for the first team squad last season was over £108million ($134m) with another £21million ($26m) for those on loan to keep in mind.

With the departure of Ndombele specifically, someone estimated to be the second highest earner at the club, it has freed up over £10.4million ($12.9m) from the spreadsheet. Compare that to the total this season and it's much, much higher.

What is noticeable, too, is that of the top 10 earners this season, three of those - Lloris, Hojbjerg and Dier - are players that the club were keen to move on. Whilst it has been positive to see a reduction in unwanted squad players in the group, if that trio had all moved on as hoped it could have spared another £15.9million ($19.8m).

The elephant in the room is Kane, who's exit also leaves a sizeable sum left over in the budget, but that has been put to good use already with some of the arrivals simply taking over on the books.

What is also evident at this stage is just how much lower Spurs are paying compared to their rivals. Manchester United and Manchester City are both paying more than double on wages whilst Arsenal are still at £70million ($87.3m) more. Liverpool, Chelsea - who have reduced theirs massively with wholesale changes and signing younger players on incentivised contracts - and Aston Villa are the others that make up the top seven.

Wages, in general, is a good way to predict how a table may well look to show just how much Postecoglou is up against it in his first year in north London. The expectation and hope is that Spurs can jump back into contention for the top four but if they are to challenge at the very top of the league it would, financially anyway, be a huge success.