Middlesbrough have agreed a deal worth up to £20 million with Tottenham Hotspur for striker Will Lankshear — a figure that would surpass the club's previous transfer record.

The initial fee stands at around £10 million, with a further £10 million available in performance-related add-ons. However, Lankshear has yet to agree personal terms with Middlesbrough, and reported interest from other clubs adds uncertainty to the move.

A striker who made his mark in the Championship

The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Oxford United, where he registered 11 goals and four assists across 44 Championship appearances — a campaign that underlined his readiness for senior football.

Lankshear originally joined Tottenham Hotspur from Sheffield United in 2022 and quickly established himself as a key figure in Spurs' youth setup. He netted 23 goals for the Under-21 side that claimed the 2023-24 Premier League 2 title, earning him the competition's player of the season award.

First steps in senior European football

The England youth international made his senior debut for Tottenham Hotspur in October 2024, coming on against Ferencvaros in the UEFA Europa League. He marked the occasion by scoring his first senior goal, though his second appearance in the competition — away at Galatasaray — ended with a red card.

Middlesbrough's busy summer window

Should the deal be completed, Lankshear would become Middlesbrough's fourth arrival of the summer transfer window. The club have already brought in Miles Peart-Harris from Oxford United on a free transfer, Jeremy Sarmiento from Brighton, and Kyle Joseph from Hull City.

The Lankshear pursuit comes after Middlesbrough sold midfielder Hayden Hackney to Everton for around £16 million. The club could also benefit further from a sizeable sell-on clause if Chelsea finalise a reported £117 million transfer for their former attacker Morgan Rogers.