Premier League clubs circle as 21-year-old Tottenham loanee’s outstanding Oxford season attracts attention

‘This’ Tottenham loanee is being closely monitored by several Premier League clubs.

Premier League clubs are ready to move for Will Lankshear this summer if Tottenham Hotspur decide to part ways with the 21-year-old forward, with the England Under-21 striker having caught the eye of numerous clubs in England and abroad following a highly impressive loan spell at Oxford United.

Lankshear completed his 47th and final appearance for the Championship side in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Millwall, a result that confirmed Oxford’s relegation, but the personal statistics he leaves behind tell a compelling story about a player who has developed substantially over the course of the campaign. Twelve goals and four assists in a season-long loan for a relegated side represents a significant individual achievement, particularly given the difficult circumstances Oxford found themselves in from early in the campaign.

The comparison being made around the young forward is one that carries both weight and pressure in equal measure. Lankshear has often been likened to Tottenham’s all-time leading scorer Harry Kane given his predatory finishing instincts and a broadly similar journey into the professional game, having been rejected by Arsenal before finding his path through the academy system. Crucially, Lankshear’s Championship loan tally this season has already surpassed the goalscoring records Kane himself set during loan spells at Millwall and Leicester, a benchmark that speaks volumes about his development trajectory.

Oxford manager Matt Bloomfield was effusive in his praise following a stunning Lankshear brace against Sheffield Wednesday last month. He said (h/t Hackney Gazette):

“His finishing, dedication to his craft, and single-minded desire to be the best he can be, I think he’s a credit to himself. There’s so much to admire about him, and he’s going to go to the top.”

Tottenham loanee Will Lankshear could be a good fit under De Zerbi

The profile also aligns closely with the kind of player Roberto De Zerbi has historically favoured and developed. At Brighton, De Zerbi handed early opportunities to numerous young players, including Evan Ferguson, who scored 11 goals in the Italian’s debut season at the Amex as a teenager. Ferguson’s profile, a physically developing, high-energy forward with a natural instinct for goal, bears more than a passing resemblance to Lankshear, and there is understood to be genuine optimism at the club about his prospects under De Zerbi’s management.

Any decision on Lankshear’s future will depend on which division Tottenham find themselves in next season. If survival is secured, the question becomes whether De Zerbi views him as ready for Premier League involvement or benefits from another loan at a higher level. If relegation occurs, the Championship could provide the platform for Lankshear to continue his development while remaining closer to first-team involvement.

Middlesbrough were among several clubs who attempted to sign him in January, but Lankshear chose to remain at Oxford to fight for survival, a decision that reflected both his character and his commitment. He returns to Hotspur Way for end-of-season testing shortly. The next chapter of his career promises to be a significant one.