Newcastle eyeing Will Lankshear after stunning form at Middlesbrough
Newcastle United are reportedly keeping a close eye on Middlesbrough striker Will Lankshear after his remarkable start to life on Teesside.
The 21-year-old has taken the Championship by storm since joining Boro from Tottenham in the summer, scoring goals for fun and attracting interest from the Premier League.
With Newcastle still searching for a reliable answer to their goalscoring problems, a potential move for a player just down the road is an intriguing one.
Boro hitman on Newcastle's radar?
According to The Sun, Newcastle are monitoring Lankshear ahead of a potential move, with the club having planned to watch him in action during Middlesbrough’s trip to Wrexham on Wednesday night.
However, those plans were disrupted when the striker was withdrawn shortly before kick-off after picking up an injury.
Lankshear has scored 13 goals in 13 Championship appearances this season, making him one of the most exciting young forwards in the division.
Our interest comes amid continued scrutiny of our attacking recruitment following Alexander Isak’s £125m departure to Liverpool. Nick Woltemade, and Yoane Wissa arrived for a combined £124 last summer, but they haven't come close to to justifying the fees paid, while Matias Fernandez-Pardo does not seem like a natural No.9.
Lankshear could offer another option, although any potential deal would be complicated by Middlesbrough’s own ambitions. Boro are pushing for promotion and will be desperate to keep their leading scorer as they look to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017.
The Sun also reports that Newcastle were not the only club keeping tabs on the forward, with his performances attracting attention across the Premier League.
Lankshear’s career so far
Lankshear began his career at Sheffield United before joining Tottenham’s academy in 2022, where he quickly established himself as a prolific goalscorer.
He enjoyed an outstanding 2023/24 campaign, scoring 23 goals for Spurs’ Under-21s as they won the Premier League 2 title. His performances earned him the competition’s Player of the Season award.
The striker went on to make six senior appearances for Tottenham, scoring his first-team goal against Galatasaray in the Europa League in November 2024.
Loan spells at West Brom and Oxford United followed, with his time at Oxford proving particularly productive. He scored 11 Championship goals in 43 league appearances last season, adding four assists.
Tottenham agreed a permanent transfer to Middlesbrough in July 2026, with the initial fee reported to be around £10m and the deal potentially rising to £20m with add-ons. He signed a five-year contract.
That move has proved an excellent one for Lankshear so far. His 13 league goals in 13 games have already surpassed last season’s Championship tally, while he has also represented England at Under-21 level.
At just 21, he is showing the kind of goalscoring instinct that Newcastle are desperately looking for. Whether our reported interest develops into something more remains to be seen, but he could be one to keep an eye on.
