Sale of Will Lankshear prompts major Spurs warning for 2026
Tottenham Hotspur’s decision to sell Will Lankshear has come under renewed scrutiny after the 21-year-old forward netted eight goals in 11 appearances for Middlesbrough. Spurs expert John Wenham told...
Tottenham Hotspur’s decision to sell Will Lankshear has come under renewed scrutiny after the 21-year-old forward netted eight goals in 11 appearances for Middlesbrough. Spurs expert John Wenham told Tottenham News the move was an “utter disaster.”
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Will Lankshear sale criticised by Spurs expert
John Wenham argued that Tottenham’s summer plan to move on Lankshear left the club light on reliable options in attack. In an exclusive conversation with Tottenham News, Wenham questioned the logic of selling a youngster who had shown scoring potential and fit the club’s current needs for a central striker role.
Wenham was candid about the club’s forward resources at Hotspur Way after the transfer window closed. “It does [look silly] when you exclude Richarlison out of choice as well, because it basically means all we have got now is a Dominic Solanke that’s devoid of confidence, Mathys Tel is devoid of confidence either on the left wing or as a striker, and I think Marmoush is better suited playing as a 10 or off the wing than as a striker,” he said. He added: “We have actually let go of a striker that is bang in confidence, that’s got the correct build to be a striker, especially in a De Zerbi system. He’s English, he supports the club, and he’s scoring goals for fun, it doesn’t just look like a mistake, it looks like an utter disaster to have moved Lankshear on.”
Why the Will Lankshear sale is drawing scrutiny
The immediate driver of the criticism is Lankshear’s form at Middlesbrough, where he has eight goals in 11 games in all competitions since his move. The output has quickly elevated him within the Championship and prompted questions about Tottenham’s choice to sanction a permanent exit for a player who had shown potency in youth football.
Lankshear’s Tottenham academy record adds weight to the discussion. He won the Premier League 2 Golden Boot in the 2023–24 season, scoring 18 goals in 19 appearances. Rather than integrating him gradually into the first team, Tottenham accepted transfer interest and moved him on during the summer, a decision now being reassessed as his form at Teesside continues to rise.
Tactical fit and squad implications
Wenham also emphasized a potential tactical mismatch. He suggested Lankshear’s physical profile and instincts align with a system associated with De Zerbi, characterised by mobile, goal-poaching runners finishing from inside the box. Tottenham currently rely on Dominic Solanke as the main centre-forward option, with Mathys Tel and other attackers deployed in varying roles. The sale of Lankshear is viewed as reducing depth and leaving Spurs more dependent on players who, in Wenham’s view, have not consistently performed in their best positions.
The discussion also touches on squad planning and homegrown representation. Wenham noted that Lankshear is English and a club supporter, factors that contribute to the sense of loss when a promising academy product finds success soon after leaving.
Supporting context: Lankshear’s development
Lankshear’s progression through Tottenham’s academy drew attention long before his Middlesbrough move. His prolific scoring in Premier League 2 highlighted his finishing ability. Middlesbrough have benefited from his arrival almost immediately, a key reason pundits and supporters are revisiting Spurs’ summer decisions.
Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi’s emphasis on fluid attacking play and central runners finishing opportunities aligns, in some quarters, with Lankshear’s strengths. That has fueled talk among supporters and observers about the sale, though club executives chose to capitalise on market value rather than risk patience with a young forward amid a competitive senior squad.
What Happens Next
Looking ahead, Tottenham faces practical questions: can Solanke’s confidence be restored and can the current forwards deliver more goals, or will persistent scoring issues push Spurs to revisit the market for a centre-forward? For Lankshear, continued scoring at Middlesbrough will intensify the debate over whether Tottenham made a strategic error in letting him leave.
Officials, fans and neutral observers will monitor both sides closely. If Lankshear maintains his Championship form, calls to reassess or regret the summer sale will grow louder. Meanwhile, Spurs must balance immediate results, squad morale and the long-term considerations of talent development and financial strategy.
Source: Original report
