Will Lankshear has burst onto the scene at Middlesbrough with a start that has left many observers questioning whether Tottenham have just off‑loaded their future Harry Kane. The 21‑year‑old striker arrived at the Riverside Stadium for a fee that could ultimately rise to £20 million, and he has already repaid that investment with a volley against Wrexham on his Carabao Cup debut and a two‑goal haul that turned a bleak Championship opening loss to Lincoln into a victory. Scott Chickelday, the striker coach who has been working one‑on‑one with Lankshear for the past two years, says he is hardly surprised by the youngster’s early impact. Chickelday, who also mentors several Premier League forwards, describes Lankshear as the best finisher he has ever coached.
“He has every type of finish in his arsenal,” he explains. “He can flick the ball around the post, slot in tap‑ins, head, volley – essentially he is a complete No 9, and there are very few players like that at the moment.
His finishing is extraordinary. I tell people and they laugh, but this boy is the closest thing I’ve seen to Harry Kane.” The comparison to Kane is bold, especially given Kane’s status as England’s all‑time leading scorer and a former European Golden Shoe winner. Yet many pundits see parallels in their development paths, playing style and relentless mindset.
Like Kane, Lankshear’s early loan spells were not all smooth. A stint at West Brom ended without a goal, but a subsequent loan to Oxford United, although ending in the club’s relegation from the Championship, proved pivotal for his personal growth. Matt Bloomfield, who took over as Oxford head coach in January when the team were perched just above the bottom of the table, recalls Lankshear’s arrival as a turning point.
“Will had been on loan before and it hadn’t quite clicked,” Bloomfield told Sky Sports. “When he arrived he was tasked with leading the line for a side that were struggling. He worked incredibly hard, left everything on the pitch, and that work ethic lifted his game.” Bloomfield highlights that, with limited senior experience, Lankshear needed guidance to round off his skill set.
“We spent a lot of time on his hold‑up play and making him a nuisance when we won the ball back,” the coach said. “Being out of possession a lot forced him to learn positioning and to be aggressive in the final third.” In the 2022‑23 season Lankshear netted 11 goals in the Championship – a respectable tally for a teenager playing in a relegated side. Chickelday notes, “Scoring that many in a team that’s fighting relegation is impressive.
It shows his quality shines even when the whole squad is under pressure.” Now at Middlesbrough, the environment is markedly different. Bloomfield believes the Boro’s possession‑based style will suit Lankshear’s instincts.
“Middlesbrough dominate the ball, they create more chances, and that will play to his strengths. He is a natural goal‑scorer, obsessed with finding the net. All he wants is to train, improve and score.” The focus and single‑mindedness that both Kane and Lankshear share are repeatedly emphasized.
“He’s a lovely lad but he has an edge to him,” says Chickelday. “He wants to succeed. All top players are driven and single‑focused.” Bloomfield adds, “He has a massive natural instinct, but you can also see the countless hours of practice.
Like Kane, he’s born to score but he also works incredibly hard on his craft.” Stories from his Oxford days illustrate his dedication. After regular training, Lankshear would stay on the pitch to finish repeatedly. “We had to pull him back into the building because he’d exhausted his legs and we had a game the next day,” Bloomfield recalls. This extra work has become routine for Lankshear.
He arrives 40 minutes before a session, completes a warm‑up, then spends an hour with Chickelday before adding another 25‑30 minutes of running after the drill. “That shows his mentality,” the coach says.
Lankshear often trains alongside his older brother Alex, who recently scored for Gateshead. Their sessions focus on repetitive match‑scenario drills – headers, volleys, cut‑back finishes, and a variety of shooting techniques. Chickelday points out a memorable goal Lankshear scored for Oxford against Sheffield Wednesday: a classic Kane‑style strike where he cut inside from the left, curled the ball into the top corner, and demonstrated his ability to finish with both feet.
His versatility makes him unpredictable. Whether drifting wide on the left or cutting inside on the right, he can finish with either foot, keeping defenders guessing. “His ruthlessness in front of goal and his consistency are remarkable,” Chickelday notes. “His shots‑on‑target ratio is phenomenal.
In our sessions he rarely misses the target. He may not score with every shot, but he constantly forces the goalkeeper into a reaction.” Statistically, Lankspear’s efficiency stands out. Among the 72 Championship players who registered at least 50 shots last season, he ranked third for expected goals per shot. Even at Oxford, his high‑quality chances reflected his work ethic and positioning.
Moreover, Chickelday believes Lankshear has untapped set‑piece talent. “He’s a good free‑kick taker, and sometimes you finish a session feeling that a special skill is emerging.” Looking ahead, Chickelday is confident about Lankshear’s trajectory.
“He wants to be the best striker in England and eventually the best in the world. In two years’ time I wouldn’t be surprised if he is seen as Kane’s successor.” He stops short of naming transfer rumors, noting that Middlesbrough would likely protest any speculation.
Nonetheless, he predicts that if Lankshear continues to develop, a £100 million valuation could be within reach. For now, the immediate goal is to help Middlesbrough achieve promotion to the Premier League.
Those who have worked with Lankshear are unanimous in their belief that he is destined for the top. “I have absolutely no doubt about that,” Bloomfield affirms. “Will is going to the very top.”