--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-07-27T22:35:12.700Z last_updated: 2026-07-27T05:00:00+00:00 data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/middlesbrough/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ2F6ZXR0ZWxpdmUuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvdHJhbnNmZXItbmV3cy93YXRjaGVkLW1pZGRsZXNicm91Z2hzLWxhbmtzaGVhci1veGZvcmQtcHJlbWllci0zNDM0OTQwNQ --- # We watched Will Lankshear at Oxford - his Premier League potential is real - **Source:** - **Published:** 27 Jul - **Club:** Middlesbrough - **Original URL:** https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/watched-middlesbroughs-lankshear-oxford-premier-34349405 Middlesbrough have turned heads this week by winning the race to sign the striker from Tottenham Hotspur in an initial £8m deal. The 21-year-old had many clubs interested in his services, and has earned rave reviews after his productive loan spell at Oxford, where he netted 12 goals despite their relegation from the Championship. Many have suggested Lankshear is a Premier League star in the making. He’ll be hoping to prove that in 2027-28, after firing Boro to promotion in the upcoming campaign. But is the hype real? Is it already clear that he is a player destined for the top flight of English Football? We asked two Oxford experts who have both covered the club for the Oxford Mail. Current Mail reporter Malachi Obrey has little doubt he’ll be a hit on Teesside. “Absolutely. Lankshear has all the components to reach the Premier League,” he said. “It is now just a case of implementing them at a higher level and levelling up the small details. “Some have already tipped him for England duties one day, but for now, there is little doubt he will be a success at Boro.” FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK! Keep up with all the Middlesbrough FC latest via the Gazette's dedicated Facebook page Liam Rice, a U’s fan who previously covered the club for the Oxford Mail, agrees, even going one further with his prediction for the future. He told Teesside Live: “Any young English striker scoring goals at Premier League or Championship level naturally attracts increased attention, so it’s no surprise there is some hype around Lankshear. “I can see him being a Premier League goalscorer within the next couple of years, whether that’s with Boro or not. He’s a natural finisher but what’s possibly more important is that his attitude is absolutely spot-on. “He’s hungry to learn and to improve, and he’s got the right attitude to pursue his goals. He’s a really likeable young player. “I’m so excited to see how he performs in the next year or two, and how far he can go in his career. Talk of the Premier League is fair. “And when you look at England’s striking options for the next tournament or two, if Lankshear continues his career trajectory then I wouldn’t at all be surprised if he’s in that conversation when it comes to squad call-ups.” Middlesbrough are preparing for a big summer as they look to rebuild from the heartarche of missing out on promotion to the Premier League. Make sure you don't miss out on the latest Boro news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe. Your information will be hidden, you'll only ever receive messages from the Teesside Live sports team, and you can leave any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'Exit group'. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.