Will Lankshear has set a scorching pace for his Middlesbrough adventure, prompting many to wonder whether Tottenham have just off‑loaded the Premier League’s future No.1 striker. The 21‑year‑old forward arrived at the Riverside Stadium for a fee that could climb to £20 million, and he has already repaid the investment with a dramatic volley against Wrexham on his Carabao Cup debut and a brace that rescued Boro from a bleak opening day defeat to Lincoln in the Championship. Scott Chickelday, the striker specialist who has been working one‑on‑one with Lankshear for the past two seasons, told Sky Sports that the early scepticism surrounding the move has turned into admiration.
"A lot of people questioned it," Chickelday said, "but now those same people are thinking we might have got a bargain." His confidence is not baseless; Chickelday, who also coaches elite Premier League forwards, rates Lankshear as the best finisher he has ever seen. "He has every type of finish in his arsenal – the little flicks around the keeper, tap‑ins, headers, volleys – a true all‑round No.9, and there aren’t many like him at the moment," he explained. The comparison to Harry Kane is bold, especially considering Kane’s record as England’s all‑time leading scorer and a former European Golden Shoe winner. Yet several observers note striking parallels in their pathways, work ethic, and mindset.
Like Kane, Lankshear’s loan spells away from Tottenham have been a mixed bag. A stint at West Brom ended without finding the net, while his time at Oxford United, although coinciding with the club’s relegation, proved pivotal for his personal development. Matt Bloomfield, who took over as Oxford’s head coach in January when the team hovered just above the bottom of the table, praised Lankshear’s impact.
"He worked incredibly hard for us, left everything on the pitch," Bloomfield recalled. The experience forced the young striker to adapt to a side that often sat low on the ball, sharpening his positioning, hold‑up play, and ability to be a nuisance when the ball was cleared. "With very limited senior football behind him, he just needed help to round his game off," Bloomfield added. Last season in the Championship, Lankshear netted 11 goals – a respectable tally for a player on a relegated side.
Chickelday noted, "In a team that got relegated, that is some going. It is tough when you are down there." At Middlesbrough, where the club dominates possession and creates more clear‑cut chances, his goal‑scoring instincts can flourish even further.
Bloomfield believes the new environment will suit Lankshear perfectly. "Middlesbrough will dominate the ball and that will suit him even more with the opportunities they create. He is born to score goals. He is obsessed.
All he wants to do is train and score," he said. This obsessive focus mirrors Kane’s laser‑like determination. "He is a lovely lad but he has got an edge to him," Bloomfield observed.
"All the top players are single‑minded and driven." Both coaches stress that natural talent alone does not explain Lankshear’s rapid rise. "He has a massive natural instinct but you can see the hours of practice too," Bloomfield affirmed, drawing a direct line to Kane’s own relentless work ethic. The striker’s commitment to extra training is evident.
After a training session, he would linger, finish drills, and then stay on for an additional 25‑30 minutes of running. "He does not just turn up, do a session and go. He will get there 40 minutes before the session starts, do a warm‑up and then do the hour with me," Chickelday recounted.
Lankshear’s dedication extends beyond the club environment; he often trains alongside his older brother Alex, who recently scored for Gateshead. Their sessions focus on repetition and match‑scenario drills – headers, volleys, cut‑back finishes, and a variety of shooting techniques.
One memorable moment was a long‑range strike for Oxford against Sheffield Wednesday, a classic Kane‑style finish where Lankshear cut inside and curled the ball into the top corner. His versatility makes him unpredictable.
He can drift wide on the left, cut inside, and finish with either foot, keeping defenders guessing. Chickelday highlighted his ruthless efficiency: "His shots‑on‑target ratio is phenomenal. In our sessions, he rarely misses the target at all. He works the goalkeeper, even if he doesn’t score on every shot." Statistically, Lankshear’s quality is evident.
Among the 72 Championship players who recorded 50 or more shots last season, he ranked third for expected goals per shot, indicating that he consistently creates high‑quality chances. Even at Oxford, his ability to generate opportunities was apparent, and his free‑kick technique, though under‑utilised, shows further potential. Looking ahead, Chickelday is convinced Lankshear could become a £100 million striker within a couple of seasons if his development continues on its current trajectory. "He wants to be the best, the No 1 striker in England, and eventually the No 1 in the world.
I would not be surprised in two years' time if he is Harry Kane's replacement," the coach said. For now, the immediate goal is simple: help Middlesbrough secure promotion to the Premier League.
Those who have worked with Lankshear are unequivocal in their belief that he is destined for the top. "I have absolutely no doubt about that," Bloomfield concluded. "Will is going to the very top." In summary, Will Lankshear’s early impact at Middlesbrough, his relentless work ethic, and the glowing endorsements from specialist coaches paint a picture of a striker on the cusp of greatness. Whether he ultimately follows in Kane’s footsteps remains to be seen, but the signs point toward a bright future for the young forward, who appears determined to become one of England’s premier goal‑scorers.