--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-07-24T23:03:44.728Z last_updated: 2026-07-23T10:34:51+00:00 data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/middlesbrough/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ2F6ZXR0ZWxpdmUuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvdHJhbnNmZXItbmV3cy9pbnNpZGUtbWlkZGxlc2Jyb3VnaHMtdHdvLXllYXItcHVyc3VpdC0zNDMzNzgyMA --- # Boro’s two-year pursuit of Will Lankshear and a scouting strategy that paid off - **Source:** - **Published:** 23 Jul - **Club:** Middlesbrough - **Original URL:** https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/inside-middlesbroughs-two-year-pursuit-34337820 While still trying to produce talent from their own esteemed academy, the recruitment team recognise the elite academy market can be a particularly useful one for Boro. Indeed, it has been a good few times in recent years. Effectively, Boro’s in-depth knowledge of the brightest young players in the country means that, should any market opportunities present themselves - particularly as Premier League clubs look to sell prospects to increase revenue - Boro are well-placed and know who the best talents are. Ironically, it was through a transfer link to Will Lankshear two years ago where the Boro scouting strategy was first revealed. It was then that we first learned Boro had an admiration for the Tottenham prospect. Given Lankshear has been touted as one of the best young English strikers for some years now, Boro were far from alone in that admiration. It makes their breakthrough this week to land the 21-year-old all the more exciting for them, after they struck an initial £8m deal with Spurs. One of Kieran Scott’s mottoes in recruitment is that timing matters. ‘Opportunistic’ is how he described it, when discussing the signing of Aidan Morris with the Gazette in 2024. As for Lankshear, when those links first emerged in the summer of 2024, he was said to be one of a number of strikers they were considering. It came after an impressive season for Tottenham’s U21s where he netted 23 goals and was named PL2 Player of the Season. In the end, Boro took advantage of a different market opportunity. Tommy Conway’s contract situation at Bristol City made it the ideal timing, while Lankshear remained at Tottenham. But Boro kept a close eye. They continued to watch on as Lankshear was handed a first-team opportunity by Ange Postecoglou after catching the eye in that summer’s pre-season. He made six first-team appearances in the first half of the 2024-25 campaign, netting once in the Europa League against Galatasaray, before then being sent off for two bookable offences. Afterwards, Postecoglou once again praised him and backed him to learn from just being a little too eager. Boro continued watching when, in January 2025, he joined West Brom on loan. Lankshear would later admit it may have come a little too early for him, but said he learned a lot. All was not well at the Hawthorns anyway, with trouble behind the scenes brewing. Boro legend Tony Mowbray eventually left after many broken promises in an ill-fated short return. Despite not netting a goal in 11 appearances for West Brom, Mowbray praised the young striker. Mogga knows a thing or two about helping young players with massive potential! He said: “I have to say he looks pretty pure in his finishing, his ball contact, the way he puts the ball in the net looks pretty clean to me. When he wants to whack it with his left foot into the bottom corner it goes in the bottom corner. Young Will’s quality looks Premier League quality.” FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK! Keep up with all the Middlesbrough FC latest via the Gazette's dedicated Facebook page Boro considered a move last summer too. Instead, they signed David Strelec and Kaly Sene. The preference is always for permanent deals where possible, and it was felt Lankshear could do with another season of senior football where the expectation was not so high. Oxford United was the move. Lankshear may have been relegated at the Kassam Stadium, but in netting 12 goals for the struggling Championship outfit, his stock dramatically rose. That meant many clubs were interested this summer. Boro had to beat a number of top Championship clubs to his signature. Offers from Southampton and Wolves were rejected, along with Sporting CP. West Ham and Premier League Leeds United are also said to have shown some interest. But Boro have been there, in the background, for the best part of two years. They’ve made their presence and admiration known, building relationships with key people who help guide the young striker’s career. Boro did make their move earlier. There was an attempt to sign him in January, as they looked to strengthen their options for a promotion push last term. And Boro believe they got quite close. But, to Lankshear’s credit, he stayed loyal to Oxford, believing it would be wrong to end his deal there early. Speaking earlier this summer to BBC Oxford, he explained: “There was a possibility that I could leave in January, but for me, I said no. I was happy to stay at Oxford because the club had been good to me and had given me great playing time. I didn’t feel it was necessary to make a move.” Timing is everything in football recruitment though, and Boro’s hard work has eventually paid off. They feel Lankshear can be the game-changer this season, and it’s easy to see why. After Hellberg’s arrival, no team created more big chances or had more touches in the opposition penalty box than Boro. But they were rock bottom of the charts for taking chances. In comparison to Oxford, Boro had over 200 more shots and provided over 200 more crosses. Having earned countless praise for his finishing and anticipation in the penalty area, Boro officials feel Lankshear could thrive in Hellberg’s side. Inevitable comparisons have been drawn to Harry Kane. Like Kane, the London-born striker was part of Arsenal’s academy before being released. Lankshear’s journey to Spurs included a brief stint at Sheffield United, where he netted 38 goals for their youth teams. Paul Heckingbottom said he had a ‘gift’. Lankshear credits Kane as one of his biggest inspirations in football, but it was another Spurs legend in Jermain Defoe who had a big impact on his development when U18s coach of Tottenham. "He is one of the most under-rated forwards the Premier League has ever had,” Boro’s new boy told Football London. "He taught me so many things. The quick finishing, no back-lift. He was amazing for me.” “I like to score goals,” he said, matter of factly in his first club interview. “And link up play, help my teammates, run around, defend. The modern day striker, you have to do everything to the best of your ability.” Two years in the making, Boro have got their man. It’s seen as a major coup for Boro and a real statement of intent. They’re not finished there either. Progressing on a number of fronts, the club hope to have more eye-catching deals to announce in the coming weeks, with all signs pointing towards an ambitious summer for the club. 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.