Middlesbrough are keen on signing Tottenham youngster Will Lankshear, although they will face fierce competition to land the striker, Football League World can exclusively reveal.

The 19-year-old really started out at Arsenal, a fierce rival of Spurs. However, the Gunners released the forward in 2021, and he later joined Sheffield United.

That was a wise decision for Lankshear, as he distinguished himself as a player for the Blades U23 team and attracted interest from other teams due to his natural knack for scoring goals.

Spurs defeated Brentford in the end to capture the England youth international in a deal reportedly worth up to £2 million, winning the battle for his signing.

Given his age, that was a significant outlay, highlighting how highly-rated Lankshear is by Spurs.

However, he has understandably found it tough to get near the first-team, with his game time for the Londoners this season restricted to the development sides.

Will Lankshear transfer latest

Moving forward is likely because Lankshear, despite his talent, is unlikely to be close to Ange Postecoglou’s squad the next season.

Additionally, FLW has learned that Boro is anxious to sign the striker before the 2019–20 season, and Michael Carrick is eager to work with the youth in order to assemble a team that can contend for promotion.

It won’t be easy, though, as several Championship teams are willing to consider signing Lankshear on a temporary basis, and some elite European teams are interested in a possible permanent move.

Spurs rewarded Lankshear’s strong play with a new deal last year, tying him down until the summer of 2026. This gives them a significant advantage when it comes to deciding on his future.

Thus, the poacher’s summer transfer is most likely to be on loan if he is still thought of as a player who could make the first team.

Middlesbrough’s summer transfer plans

Boro’s campaign was disorganized and ultimately unsuccessful as they were unable to advance to the play-offs.

To be fair to Carrick, it was to be expected since he lost a number of important players from the team that had been in the top six the previous season, including Ryan Giles and Cameron Archer, who went back to their parent clubs, and top scorer Chuba Akpom.

Boro found it annoying, but perseverance was always necessary, and there were indications that the team was getting better, especially in 2024.

They will therefore enter the summer with hope, but it is obvious that additional recruits are needed.

At this point, Emmanuel Latte Lath seems like a great choice, but they need additional punch, which is why it’s not surprising that they are pursuing another number nine.

Although Lankshear’s inexperience would be a worry, he matches the mold of Boro’s acquisitions from the previous 18 months, and Spurs find them to be a desirable alternative because Carrick has demonstrated his ability to develop younger players.

It would be intriguing to see how things work out for Lankshear in the summer because those who have watched him play at the youth level describe him as a top talent.