Former Spurs striker Darren Bent has taken aim at his old club for letting Will Lankshear join Middlesbrough, putting the decision down to a kind of big-club snobbery. Speaking on talkSPORT Drive, he argued that Tottenham’s vast wealth may have led them to assume they could simply buy better.
Lankshear moved to the Riverside in the summer for an initial £10 million, and the deal is looking like a bargain. The 21-year-old forward leads the Championship scoring charts with eight goals, the latest coming in Middlesbrough’s thrilling 3-2 win over Stoke City on Tuesday.
His form has prompted awkward questions in north London. Spurs needed five games to score their first league goal of the 2026/27 campaign, and some fans now wonder whether selling a promising young striker was a mistake, especially after the club spent more than £300 million on new signings in the summer.
Bent accepts that Lankshear’s development might have gone differently had he stayed at Tottenham, but he has no doubt the youngster will reach the Premier League, whether through Middlesbrough’s promotion or a move elsewhere. In his view, Lankshear is more than good enough for the top flight.
He highlighted the striker’s blend of power and polish, describing him as a big, physical forward with good movement, a composed finish and the knack of scoring all kinds of goals. Bent also praised his instincts in the box, noting that plenty of strikers score regularly without truly knowing where the ball will drop, whereas Lankshear seems to have a natural feel for positioning.
Recognition has followed at international level too. Lankshear made his England Under-21 debut in the latest break, scoring off the bench against Kazakhstan, then started the goalless draw with Slovakia and played 21 minutes as a substitute against Ireland.
If he keeps this up, Premier League clubs hunting for a young, physical forward with a nose for goal are sure to take notice. For Tottenham, his rise could become an uncomfortable reminder of a sale that is already drawing criticism, though whether they end up regretting it remains to be seen.
