Credit: Imago

Daniel Davis

Tue 7 April 2026 8:10, UK

Will Lankshear has surely already done enough to prove he deserves his big chance at Tottenham Hotspur under Roberto De Zerbi next season.

Lankshear scored his 10th goal of the season for Oxford United in their pulsating 2-2 draw with fellow Championship strugglers Portsmouth on Monday afternoon.

The 20-year-old striker has impressed during his loan stint at the Kassam Stadium this campaign, showcasing his quality during their bid to beat the drop.

His superb diving header put the U’s 2-1 up at Fratton Park in the six-pointer, only for Andre Dozzell’s equaliser three minutes from time to wrestle the headlines away from him.

Still, his heroics in the second tier will have caught the eye of Tottenham as they draw up their transfer plans for 2025-26, and promisingly, there also looks to be more to come.

How did Will Lankshear play for Oxford United?

Lankshear completed his temporary switch to Oxford back in August, having been shipped out to gain regular first-team minutes after a poor spell with West Bromwich Albion.

He had not been able to register a single goal contribution in his 11 matches with the Baggies, but now, he is in the midst of a red-hot streak at his current club.

This would have placed him back on Tottenham’s radar, while De Zerbi will also have taken note. Indeed, his statistics against Portsmouth point to an ace who takes his chances.

In fact, he scored with his only shot in his 90-minute runout, having fed off scraps.

According to Sofascore, Lankshear attempted just seven passes and took 30 touches.

However, there were also plenty of signs that he remains far from the finished article. The youngster lost possession 13 times and won two of his 12 ground duels.

His immediate future at Spurs is likely to hinge on the league they find themselves in next season, but at the very least, he deserves to be in and around the first-team picture.

With Dominic Solanke and Richarlison hardly ripping up trees, and Randal Kolo Muani to leave in the summer, there should be ample opportunities for Lankshear to stake his claim.

Lankshear attracting transfer interest

While De Zerbi will, of course, be prioritising the squad currently at his disposal, he will have one eye on the 18 first-teamers currently out on loan.

Among them, Lankshear is shining brightly.

Regardless, Lankshear could still leave Tottenham at the end of the season, with Middlesbrough and Wrexham closely monitoring him, according to Football League World.

The striker is highly rated at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, having made a name for himself in the academy after arriving from Sheffield United back in 2022.

He is tied down to a long-term contract until 2029, leaving Spurs very much in control of his future. Either way, the time has come to integrate him into the senior crop.