Sheffield United to land cash boost after Middlesbrough transfer | OneFootball

Sheffield United are set to be small winners in the Middlesbrough deal to sign Will Lankshear

Middlesbrough have looked to solve their issues finishing chances last season with the blockbuster signing of Will Lankshear from Tottenham Hotspur.

A new, clinical striker would have been right at the top of the shopping list this summer at the Riverside, and in Lankshear, Boro have someone who could fire them one better than their play-off final defeat in the upcoming campaign.

The 21-year-old is well-regarded as one of the hottest young striking prospects in England, scoring 26 times in 35 appearances for Tottenham's under-21s side before breaking into the senior fold at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the opening half of the 2024/25 campaign.

He played, and scored, in the group stages of Spurs' successful Europa League term a couple of seasons ago, and despite a dud loan spell at West Brom in the second half of that campaign, another loan to Oxford United last year saw him back on track.

11 goals for a relegated side as a young striker is incredibly promising, and Middlesbrough will look to develop him further at the Riverside in the coming seasons.

Sheffield United set for cash boost after Middlesbrough, Will Lankshear signing

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Given Lankshear's clear potential, Boro have had to part ways with a sizable fee for him, paying £10 million up front and a further £10 million in add-ons, which could break their club record.

Not all of that initial fee will be going to Spurs, though, as Sheffield United are in line for a much-needed windfall following the sale.

Indeed, Lankshear spent time in the academy at the South Yorkshire side, following a release from Tottenham's North London rivals, Arsenal. He spent a year at Bramall Lane before Spurs brought him back to the capital for £2 million.

According to the Sheffield Star, the Blades inserted a sell-on clause that sees them receive 20% of any fees that Middlesbrough will receive for Lankshear, so they could be in line for up to £4 million overall if all add-ons are achieved.

Will Lankshear windfall news is massive for Sheffield United after parachute payments dry up

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While Sheffield United may have preferred for Lankshear to fully break through into the Tottenham fold and become an established first-teamer before moving on, leading to even more of a cash boost if he moved on further down the line, there's no doubting that any money coming in this summer is a massive boost for the Blades.

The new squad cost ratio financial rulings, paired with the fact that this is the first transfer window Sheffield United have navigated as a Championship club with no Premier League parachute payments since January 2019, have forced Chris Wilder's side to be a little more careful with their dealings.

The Blades were priced out of a move for Lewis Dobbin, who joined Southampton for £10 million, and the same could end up happening with Harry Souttar, as Leicester City want £10 million for the Australian international.

The money from the Lankshear deal won't automatically mean that Sheffield United can pay eight-figure fees for targets, but any money that comes in without the need for Chris Wilder to sell his best players will be much appreciated.

The Blades have already had to bid farewell to an academy graduate in Andre Brooks after an £8 million fee was bid by Norwich City, and he's been replaced by a loanee in Romelle Donovan.

If a couple of million quid coming in loosens the demand to sell any more of the Blades' top stars ahead of an important Championship campaign, then that'll be well-received by the higher-ups at Bramall Lane.