Tottenham have been warned they have ‘sold Harry Kane’ all over again by offloading Will Lankshear.
That is according to talkSPORT host Adrian Durham, who has tipped the 21-year-old striker for an England call-up and then the unthinkable by joining Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.
5
Lankshear was sold by Spurs to Championship promotion favourites Middlesbrough last month.
The England Under-21 international joined Boro on a five-year deal for an initial £10million plus a potential £10m in add-ons this summer.
He has since scored three goals in two competitive outings, with Lankshear the only player to score for the club so far this term.
His strikes have secured wins over Wrexham and Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup and Championship, respectively.
Spurs’ biggest transfer mistake
Having previously scored 11 league goals for Oxford United on loan despite their relegation last term, Durham is expecting big things for the young centre forward.
He has even predicted an historic Three Lions selection within the next 12 months.
Speaking on the latest episode of talkSPORT’s Fiery Fridays podcast, Durham warned Spurs they could regret selling him.
Beginning his argument, he explained: “Spurs selling Will Lankshear to Middlesbrough, I think will go down as the worst mistake any Premier League club has ever made.
“I think even by the end of this season, Spurs will be regretting what I think is a crazy decision.
“Lankshear will play for England before the season is out. He’ll be an Arsenal player this time next year. For the second time in their recent history, Spurs have just sold Harry Kane.”
5
5
Spurs sold all-time leading scorer Harry Kane to Bayern Munich in a deal worth more than £100million in 2023.
Kane briefly played in an Arsenal youth team before joining boyhood club Spurs, with Lankshear having a similar trajectory. Born in 2005, he was initially in Arsenal’s academy but joined Sheffield United in 2021.
Spurs then moved and snapped up Lankshear for £1m in 2022.
He went on to make just six first-team appearances, though, scoring once, alongside loan spells at West Brom and Oxford.
Harry Kane comparison
Durham is convinced Lankshear’s goals are exactly what Spurs could be missing this term.
He continued: “Unless Spurs add goals before the end of the transfer window [on 1 September], they will be watching Will Lankshear, their product, smash in 20 plus [goals] for Boro, wishing he could be doing the same for them because Tottenham will need ways to find the back of the net.
5
“Last season, Lankshear scored double figures for a poor side in the Championship. His numbers at Oxford United were better than anything Harry Kane achieved in his loan spells as a young Spurs player.
“What I like about his play is, if you’ve not seen him play, he’s not just goals. He’s got many qualities. I’ve seen him described as a penalty box striker and he converts chances, he is a finisher for sure.
“Like any striker, most of his goals are scored in the box. I’ve seen him score from distance. He’s capable of the spectacular. He’s calm, movement is a bit special, strong, good in the air. He makes terrific runs. He can assist as well.”
Spurs scored just 48 goals in 38 Premier League matches last term as they finished 17th, avoiding relegation by two points.
Although they are in talks to sign both Savinho and Omar Marmoush, Roberto De Zerbi has yet to make an attacking signing this summer.
Lankshear tipped for England and Arsenal
As for Lankshear, Durham believes the England youth international will earn a senior call-up, becoming the first outfield Championship player to do so since Wilfried Zaha in 2012.
5
Lankshear could also succeed Viktor Gyokeres as Arsenal’s No.9 ahead of next term, Durham admits.
Concluding his vision for the Boro frontman, he added: “Arsenal won’t put up with Gyokeres much longer and they’ll be in the market for a goalscorer and Lankshear will become a Arteta project like [Christos] Tzolis, the signing of the summer on the wing.
“I think that he will become the next Mikel Arteta vanity project and he’ll make it work as Lankshear is that good.
“Biggest transfer mistake ever. The kid from Spurs’ academy is going to become a legendary Arsenal and England striker.
“Just watch him go this season and watch Spurs tears as he fires in the goals for Boro.”