Aston Villa deal could help Middlesbrough win transfer race this summer: View | OneFootball

Middlesbrough are chasing the signature of Tottenham Hotspur youngster Will Lankshear this summer.

It was exclusively revealed by Football League World that the Teesside outfit are interested in the 19-year-old.

According to London World, a contract proposal has been made to the striker, with talks underway with Spurs over a move.

It has been claimed that the London club could even be open to a permanent deal for the teenager, who has been unable to break into the Premier League side’s first-team squad so far during his time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

And despite his form at under-21 level, it is unlikely that he will feature in Ange Postecoglou’s plans for next year either, leading to speculation over his future.

Lankshear signed for Tottenham in 2022 from Sheffield United in a deal worth a reported £2 million, and has impressed many with his performances at underage level but should now be looking to make the jump to senior football.

Middlesbrough should have edge in Will Lankshear transfer tussle

Middlesbrough appear to be leading the way in the race to sign Lankshear, but they will face stiff competition for the forward.

The youngster scored an impressive 18 goals across 19 appearances in the Premier League 2 last season, with Spurs winning the title in large part thanks to his goals (all stats from Fbref).

His performances have caught the attention of numerous clubs, including some outside of England.But Boro have shown that they can be a great pathway for players to break into senior football, and will even offer a route to Premier League football even if they don’t earn promotion to the top flight.

The example of Morgan Rogers could prove crucial to securing the signing of Lankshear, as the winger signed for Boro just last summer and his impressive performances earned him a quick move to the Premier League with Aston Villa.

Rogers went on to play a role in helping the Midlands outfit earn Champions League qualification, and will now be competing in the premier European cup competition next season, with Boro helping facilitate that next step in his career.

When Aston Villa knocked on the door in January, the Championship side did not stand in his way of a top flight move, despite only just arriving at the Riverside the previous transfer window.

While this was a blow to the team’s promotion hopes, and potentially cost them a top six finish in the end, given how close they were to the play-offs, they were happy to let the player move on to bigger things with Unai Emery’s team.

This should be compelling evidence that a move to the Riverside would be a great path forward for Lankshear, as the club has a proven track record of providing young players with the game time they need to shine, with Carrick also proving a bright coach with the ability to help these players develop into stars.

If Lankshear can follow on a similar path, then this will further prove to other talented young players that Middlesbrough is where they need to be at the start of their careers.

Middlesbrough’s promotion chances look strong ahead of 2024-25 Championship season

Boro will have their sights set on another promotion push this year, and Lankshear’s arrival could be key.

Adding strength and depth to their forward line will be important in the transfer window, as the loss of Chuba Akpom to Ajax was felt throughout the campaign.

While Lankshear may take a bit of time to adjust to senior football, his potential is obvious and, at only 19, his re-sale value could be quite high if his form does take off at senior level.

Middlesbrough have come fourth and eighth in the Championship under Carrick, and the manager has been rewarded with a new contract this summer as a show of faith in his ability to guide the club to a promotion challenge.

Lankshear should see this as a positive sign of the club’s own potential upward trajectory in the immediate future when deciding his next move.

All these factors play into Boro’s hands, and should make it an easy choice to make the switch to the Riverside this summer.