Will Lankshear has set the tone for his Middlesbrough adventure with a series of eye‑catching performances that have 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 reach £20 million, and he has already repaid that investment with a volleyed winner on his Carabao Cup debut against Wrexham and a brace that rescued Boro from a shaky start to the Championship season against Lincoln City.
Scott Chickelday, the striker coach who has been working one‑on‑one with Lankshear for the past two years, was quick to point out that the reaction to the youngster’s signing has shifted dramatically. "A lot of people questioned it," Chickelday told Sky Sports.
"Those same people are now looking at it and thinking, hang on, we might have got a bit of a bargain here." The coach, who also trains top‑flight Premier League forwards, believes Lankshear is the best finisher he has ever seen. "He has got all the finishes in the book – the little flicks around the corner, tap‑ins, headers, volleys – an all‑round No 9, and there are not many like him at the moment," he said. Chickelday even went as far as to compare the Boro striker to Harry Kane, describing Lankshear as "the closest thing I have seen to Harry Kane" in terms of finishing ability. While such a comparison may seem audacious – Kane remains England’s all‑time leading scorer and the reigning European Golden Shoe holder – several parallels between the two players are beginning to emerge, from their developmental pathways to their relentless work ethic.
Lankshear’s loan spells away from Tottenham have not all been smooth. A brief stint at West Brom ended without a goal, but a subsequent loan to Oxford United proved more fruitful on a personal level, even though the club ultimately suffered relegation from the Championship. Matt Bloomfield, who took over as Oxford’s head coach in January, recalled that Lankshear arrived at a time when the team were hovering just above the bottom of the table. "Oxford was a big step for Will.
He had gone out on loan before and it had not quite worked out," Bloomfield explained. "He worked incredibly hard for us, left everything out on the pitch. The experience improved him." At Oxford, Bloomfield focused on sharpening Lankshear’s hold‑up play and positioning when the team regained possession, given the side’s tendency to sit deep.
"We did a lot of work on his hold‑up play and being a nuisance when we cleared the ball," Bloomfield said. The effort paid off: Lankshear finished the season with 11 Championship goals – a respectable tally for a player in a side that were relegated, and a clear indicator of his knack for finding the net under pressure. Now at Middlesbrough, the striker finds himself in a more dominant environment. Bloomfield believes the Boro side’s possession‑based style will suit Lankshear perfectly, providing him with more chances to exploit his natural goal‑scoring instincts.
"He is born to score goals. He is obsessed. All he wants to do is train and score," Bloomfield noted, echoing the laser‑focused mentality that has drawn frequent comparisons to Kane. Chickelday and Bloomfield both stress that Lankshear’s talent is complemented by an extraordinary work ethic.
The young forward routinely arrives 40 minutes before scheduled sessions, completes a thorough warm‑up, spends an hour under the coach’s guidance, and then adds another 25‑30 minutes of running afterwards. "He does not just turn up, do a session and go," Chickelday observed.
"He will get there early, work extra, and stay after – that shows you his mentality." Training sessions often involve his older brother Alex, who scored for Gateshead over the weekend, and focus on a wide array of finishing drills: headers, volleys, cut‑back finishes, and even long‑range attempts. One memorable moment highlighted by Chickelday was Lankshear’s goal 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 from outside the box. "It was the typical Kane finish," Chickelday said, underscoring the striker’s ability to use both feet with equal proficiency, making him unpredictable for defenders. Statistically, Lankshear’s efficiency is impressive.
Among the 72 Championship players who recorded 50 or more shots last season, he ranked third for expected goals per shot, demonstrating that he not only gets chances but creates high‑quality ones. His shots‑on‑target ratio is described as "phenomenal" by Chickelday, who added that while Lankshear may not score on every attempt, he consistently forces goalkeepers into difficult positions. Beyond finishing, Chickelday believes Lankshear has the makings of a set‑piece specialist. "He never gets to take them but he is a really good free‑kick taker," the coach remarked, hinting at another dimension to the striker’s game that could be refined in the coming years.
The ambition driving Lankshear is crystal clear. He aspires to be the top striker in England and eventually the world, with Bloomfield convinced that a £100 million valuation is within reach if his development continues on its current trajectory.
"I would not be surprised in two years' time if he is Harry Kane's replacement," Chickelday said confidently. "He wants to be the No 1 striker in England, and then obviously he wants to be the No 1 in the world too." While the ultimate goal for both player and club is promotion to the Premier League, those who have worked closely with Lankshear are unanimous in their belief that the young forward is destined for the very top. "I have absolutely no doubt about that," Bloomfield affirmed.
"Will is going to the very top." In summary, Will Lankshear’s early impact at Middlesbrough – highlighted by decisive goals, a relentless training ethic, and a striking resemblance to Harry Kane’s playing style – suggests that Tottenham may indeed have sold a future Premier League star. If his current pace of improvement continues, the Boro faithful can look forward to a striker who not only scores prolifically but also embodies the professionalism and determination required to compete at the highest level of English football.