Tottenham Hotspur will scrap plans to send Will Lankshear back out on loan if they are relegated from the Premier League, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
The former Sheffield United centre-forward, who moved to north London in 2022, has spent the season with Oxford United after being dispatched to the Kassam Stadium to accelerate his development.
Although Spurs are minded to arrange another temporary transfer for the youngster should Roberto De Zerbi lead them to top-flight safety — potentially placing Lankshear with one of the teams set to be promoted from the Championship — the 20-year-old is set to be handed a chance to impress the Italian if his parent club slide into the second tier.
Despite Oxford’s struggles so far this term, they are fighting for survival themselves, Lankshear has impressed, producing a series of commanding performances and scoring nine times in 37 outings for Matt Bloomfield’s side.
Those statistics have convinced Spurs’ coaching staff that, should the worst come to pass, he possesses both the pedigree and experience to finally be granted an opportunity to stake a claim for a regular first team role — having also spent time with West Bromwich Albion following his move from Bramall Lane.
Eye For Goal
Born in Hertfordshire, Lankshear actually began his career with Arsenal before being lured north by United, whose academy is regarded as one of the finest in the country despite not being awarded category one status.
Paul Heckingbottom, The Blades’ first team manager at the time, described him as having a “gift to score goals” and wanted to award Lankshear a new long-term professional contract until Spurs, amid interest from Brentford, swooped to complete a £2million deal.
Three of his six outings for De Zerbi’s employers have come in European competition, having previously represented them in the Europa Youth League soon after returning to the south of England. Lankshear has also been capped by England at under-19 and under-20 level.