Will Lankshear: The 'Kane-esque' Striker Spurs Let Go
Will Lankshear has scored nine goals in 12 games for Middlesbrough, as many as Tottenham's entire squad, leaving Spurs fans to question the summer sale.
A Poacher's Instinct at the Riverside
Leaping high, six yards out, to nod in Tommy Conway's cross from the left wing, Will Lankshear notched his ninth goal in 12 games for Middlesbrough on Saturday. It was the kind of finish that has become his trademark at the Riverside Stadium — positioning, timing and a poacher's instinct — and it earned Boro a 1-0 win against Wolves.
That goal took his tally to nine in all competitions, a remarkable return for a striker who joined the Championship club from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer on a five-year contract. According to reports, the deal could rise to a club record buy of £20m. At the time, it looked like smart business for Spurs — a healthy sell-on fee for a player yet to establish himself in the first team. Now, with the season in full swing, it looks like a decision that could haunt them.
The Stark Contrast in North London
The numbers tell a brutal story. Since joining Boro, Lankshear has scored as many goals in all competitions as Spurs' combined team. His old side, despite snatching a draw at Manchester United a few hours after Lankshear's latest winner, remain in the Premier League relegation zone, while Boro sit in the Championship's automatic promotion places.
Dominic Solanke's last-minute goal at Old Trafford was the first league goal scored by a Tottenham forward in five months. That statistic alone explains the growing sense of despair among the Spurs faithful. The contrast between Lankshear's prolific form and Tottenham's attacking struggles has become one of the defining narratives of the early season.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Ali Speechly, co-chair of the Women of the Lane supporters' group, summed up the mood: "A lot of fans are wondering why he was sold. It was likely to do with money - his sell-on price is relatively high, so let's cash in on him. I was definitely disappointed. Given how badly we have started this season, as a fan it feels like the wrong decision."
Why Lankshear Fits the 'Kane-Esque' Mould
The description of Lankshear as 'Kane-esque' is not simply a lazy comparison to a former Spurs striker. It speaks to a specific style of centre-forward play: intelligent movement in the box, aerial ability despite not being the tallest, and a relentless appetite for goals. His header against Wolves was a case in point — arriving at the perfect moment, directing the ball with precision rather than power.
For Middlesbrough, Lankshear has become the focal point of their promotion push. He has scored in all but one of Boro's home matches this season, turning the Riverside into a fortress. His partnership with Conway, who provided the assist on Saturday, has given Michael Carrick's side a balanced attacking threat that blends creativity with ruthless finishing.
For Tottenham, the problem is not just that Lankshear is scoring — it is that no one else is. Solanke's late strike at Old Trafford ended a five-month drought for Spurs forwards in the league, a statistic that highlights a systemic issue rather than a simple lack of quality. The decision to sell Lankshear, however logical it seemed in the summer, now looks like a gamble that has backfired spectacularly.
The Bigger Picture: A Season in Limbo
Lankshear's success at Middlesbrough comes amid a wider backdrop of uncertainty in English football. Manchester City's 3-0 win at Liverpool on Sunday extended their perfect start to the season, but as reported, the result carried a sense of irrelevance given the Premier League's dysfunctional state following City's financial rule breaches. The focus on off-field matters has overshadowed on-field achievements, and for clubs like Tottenham, the consequences of transfer decisions are magnified in such a chaotic environment.
Spurs fans will hope that Solanke's goal at Old Trafford is a turning point, but the shadow of Lankshear's form at Middlesbrough will linger. Every goal he scores in the Championship is a reminder of what Tottenham let go — and a question of whether they will regret it for years to come.
As the season progresses, the narrative will only intensify. If Lankshear fires Boro to promotion while Spurs battle relegation, the £20m deal will be remembered as one of the most lopsided transfers in recent memory. For now, Tottenham can only watch and wonder what might have been.
