Middlesbrough were so close to making a return to the Premier League last season that they could taste it. After being edged out in the Championship play-off final by Hull City, instead of sulking, the Teesiders decided to spend and go again. Their biggest outlay was on Tottenham Hotspur striker Will Lankshear in a deal that could reach £20 million, but it’s already looking like a shrewd piece of business.

Hitting The Ground Running

Lankshear, 21, has hit the ground running for Boro this season. The striker, who started in Arsenal’s academy before moving to Sheffield United’s youth setup, has made 12 appearances in all competitions, scoring an impressive 9 goals. He’s got 7 in 9 in the Championship and 2 in 3 in the Carabao Cup. Based on minutes played, he’s averaging around a goal per game.

The Hertfordshire-born goal-getter enjoyed a fruitful loan spell with Oxford United last term, where he managed to score 12 goals in all competitions for a team that was relegated. That form in front of goal put second-tier clubs on high alert, as suggested by football transfer betting odds in the window, but it was only Boro who could come up with the financial package to tempt Spurs into a sale.

The Difference Maker

After coming so close to promotion via the play-offs in 2025/26, Boro are leaving nothing to chance this time around. With the play-off places extended to six from the original four, Kim Hellberg and his team want to avoid the chaos and go up automatically. Boro are currently second, just two points off top spot, and Lankshear’s goals are a huge part of that.

After scoring twice against Lincoln City on the opening day, which saw Boro come from behind to win, Lankshear has scored at least once in every other game, which is quite remarkable. His goals have also secured crucial points, with his strike against Wolves last time out the only goal of the game.

A Future England International

Lankshear’s run of form saw him earn his first caps for the England U21s. He came off the bench for Lee Carsley’s side against Kazakhstan U21s, scoring his first goal at the level. He also played against Slovakia U21s and the Republic of Ireland U21s. It’s likely that from here on in, he’ll regularly be a part of Carsley’s group.

Standing at 6ft 2in and with proven goalscoring ability, Lankshear is already being talked about as a future senior England international and potentially the eventual successor to Harry Kane, who the youngster spent time learning from at Spurs. With Kane likely to play on until the end of Euro 2028, that gives Lankshear plenty of time to develop his game further.

What’s Next For Lankshear?

The message this striker will be receiving right now is simple: keep doing what you’re doing. Goals are his game, and if he continues to score them at the rate he currently is, it will be great not only for him as an individual but also for Middlesbrough, as it will put them in a great position to secure automatic promotion.

To force his way into the England senior squad, he’ll have to prove he can score goals at the top level, and that will be the ultimate next step in his career. But at present, he’s showing he’s a prolific goalscorer with the potential to get even better.