Will Lankshear’s arrival at Middlesbrough has been nothing short of electrifying, prompting many to wonder whether Tottenham have inadvertently sold the next Harry Kane. Scott Chickelday, the striker’s specialist coach, told Sky Sports that the initial skepticism surrounding the deal has turned into admiration. \"A lot of people questioned it," Chickelday recalled.
\"Now they’re looking at it and thinking, maybe we got a bargain after all.\" That sentiment captures the remarkable start Lankshear has enjoyed in the north‑east. Middlesbrough paid an initial fee that could climb to £20 million for the 21‑year‑old forward, and the investment has already paid dividends.
He announced his debut with a spectacular volley against Wrexham in the Carabao Cup, then followed it up with a brace that rescued Boro in their opening Championship fixture against Lincoln City. Those early contributions have set the tone for what many believe could be a prolific spell at the club. Chickelday, who has worked one‑on‑one with Lankshear for the past two seasons, is quick to point out that the young striker’s finishing ability is exceptional, even when measured against Premier League standards. \"I work with top‑flight players, and I’d say Will is the best finisher among them,\" he said.
\"He has every type of finish in his arsenal – the little flicks, tap‑ins, headers, volleys – a true all‑round No 9. There aren’t many strikers like that right now.
His finishing is incredible. I tell people and they laugh, but this boy is the closest thing I’ve seen to Harry Kane.\" Comparing a 21‑year‑old to a player who holds the record for England goals and the European Golden Shoe is a bold claim, yet the parallels are striking. Both players emerged from Tottenham’s academy, experienced loan spells that were a mixed bag, and share a relentless hunger for goals. Lankshear’s loan to West Brom yielded no goals, but his stint at Oxford United, although ending in relegation, proved pivotal for his development.
Matt Bloomfield, who took charge of Oxford in January when the team were hovering above the bottom of the table, praised Lankshear’s work ethic. \"Oxford was a big step for Will.
He’d been on loan before and it hadn’t quite clicked,\" Bloomfield explained. \"When he arrived, he gave everything on the pitch.
He worked incredibly hard, left everything out there. The experience rounded his game. We spent a lot of time on his hold‑up play and making him a nuisance when we won the ball back.\" In the Championship last season, Lankshear managed 11 goals for a side that ultimately went down – a respectable return given the circumstances. Chickelday noted, \"In a team that got relegated, that is some going.
It’s tough when you’re down there.\" At Middlesbrough, where the team is expected to dominate possession, the striker will have far more chances to showcase his instinctive goal‑scoring talent. Bloomfield believes the new environment will suit Lankshear perfectly. \"Middlesbrough will dominate the ball and that will give him more opportunities.
He is born to score, he is obsessed with it. All he wants to do is train and find the back of the net.\" The focus and single‑mindedness he displays echo the traits that have defined Kane’s career. \"He is a lovely lad but he has an edge to him,\" Bloomfield added.
\"All the top players are driven and single‑focused.\" Both coaches stress that natural talent alone does not explain Lankshear’s progress; relentless practice does. Bloomfield observed, \"He has massive natural instinct, but you can see the hours of work too. It’s the same with Harry Kane – they’re born goal‑scorers but they also work incredibly hard at their craft.\" Lankshear’s dedication is evident in his training habits.
After team sessions, he would stay on the pitch to finish drills for hours. Bloomfield recalled, \"He would just stay out there finishing all day. We had to push him back to the building because we needed his legs for the next game.\" This extra work caught Chickelday’s attention as well. The striker routinely arrives 40 minutes early, completes a warm‑up, then spends a full hour on a one‑on‑one session, followed by another 25‑30 minutes of conditioning.
\"That shows his mentality,\" Chickelday said. Even his older brother Alex, who scored for Gateshead over the weekend, joins him for some of those sessions.
The focus is on repetition and match‑scenario drills – headers, volleys, cut‑back finishes, and a variety of shooting techniques. Chickelday highlighted a particular goal Lankshear scored for Oxford against Sheffield Wednesday: a classic Kane‑style strike where he cut inside from the left and curled the ball into the top corner. \"It was the typical Kane finish,\" he noted.
Lankshear’s versatility adds another layer to his threat. He often drifts wide on the left, cuts inside, and can finish with either foot, making him unpredictable for defenders.
His ruthlessness in front of goal and his consistency are reflected in his shooting statistics; among the 72 Championship players who recorded at least 50 shots last season, he ranked third for expected goals per shot. His ability to convert high‑quality chances, even at a relegated Oxford side, suggests a ceiling far higher than his current level.
Chickelday also believes Lankshear has untapped set‑piece talent. \"He never gets to take them but he is a really good free‑kick taker,\" he said, adding that sometimes a session feels special because the striker’s mindset is so focused on becoming the best.
\"He wants to be the No 1 striker in England, and eventually the world. I wouldn’t be surprised if, in two years’ time, he is Harry Kane’s replacement.\" While speculation about future transfers is premature – Middlesbrough’s management would likely object – Chickelday hinted that Lankshear could be only two moves away from a £100 million valuation if his development continues on its current trajectory. For now, the priority for Boro is promotion back to the Premier League, and everyone who knows Lankshear believes he will be a central figure in that quest. \"I have absolutely no doubt about that,\" Bloomfield affirmed.
\"Will is going to the very top.\"