Well, here’s an interesting development. According to UK independent sports outlet Hayters, Tottenham Hotspur has rejected “multiple” bids for 21-year-old striker Will Lankshear. The bids include a heretofore unknown £15m bid from Middlesbrough last January. Lankshear is under contract at Totteham until 2029.
Lankshear had an impressive loan with Oxford United in the Championship last season; though Oxford was relegated from the second division to League One, it’s not for lack of effort from BIG WILLY
LANKS who scored 12 goals and tallied four assists for the Oxen.
The interest is coming from all over, including from Portugal — Sporting is said to be tracking Lankshear, and there are multiple approaches from clubs in the Championship and elsewhere. Hayters claims Spurs are demanding at least £20m for the striker, which is significant, but may prefer to keep him around and send him back out on loan to the Championship next season as well.
Lankshear has clear talent, though he may not have the opportunity to showcase it at Spurs this coming season, hence the suggestions of another loan or sale. So long as there are two senior strikers ahead of him — Spurs currently have Richarlison and Dominic Solanke ahead of him along with other players like Mathys Tel who can start at striker in a pinch. There is a lot to like about Big Willy Lanks — he has a frame similar to that of a young Harry Kane and is a fox in the box kind of player, able to finish chances so long as he’s provided service. That was the main issue at Oxford — the Bulls were pretty terrible and played anti-football until their manager Gary Rowett was sacked early in the season. They improved their playstyle under current boss Matt Bloomfield, but not enough to keep them from the drop.
Hayters says the Middlesbrough bid in January was eventually rejected by both Lankshear and Spurs as they preferred to keep him at Oxford and then re-evaluate his options this summer. Well, that time is apparently now.
I quite like the look at Lankshear, though I concede it’s unlikely he’s ready for Premier League football and would be well down the depth chart if he stays. I’d be perfectly fine with another loan, though I’d also be keen for him to stick around at least for the preseason so we can get a better look at him. And if Spurs do get a good offer for him, well, £20m is a pretty good price for a player who could develop into a perfectly good Premier League caliber striker.
