Southampton and Wolves will be reeling as new Middlesbrough trend emerges | OneFootball

Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers will be reeling as new Middlesbrough trend has emerged under Kim Hellberg in 2026/27...

Will Lankshear's move from Tottenham Hotspur to Middlesbrough has already begun to look like one of the Championship's most intriguing pieces of business and one Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton will be reeling at in equal measure.

According to Keith Downie of Sky Sports, the 21-year-old striker joined Middlesbrough in a deal worth an initial £10 million, with the fee potentially rising to £20 million through add-ons, while Spurs also retained a sell-on clause and buy-back option.

After a productive loan spell at Oxford United last season, Lankshear has now been handed the responsibility of leading Boro's attack under Kim Hellberg in 2026/27 following a profligate end to their previous campaign under the Swede.

Southampton and Wolves have missed a Will Lankshear opportunity

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It was no great surprise to see Southampton and Wolves show interest in Lankshear before Middlesbrough. Both clubs have ambitions of making swift returns to the Premier League and both needed to strengthen their forward lines, while Lankshear's experience at Oxford and West Brom made him an obvious candidate for Championship clubs looking for a young striker with significant upside.

His loan at Oxford, in particular, gave him valuable experience of English senior football. However, for a struggling side that ended up relegated, Lankshear bagged 12 goals and claimed four assists in 47 appearances at the age of just 21.

Ultimately, though, neither Southampton nor Wolves managed to get a deal for Lankshear over the line, allowing Middlesbrough to swoop. That decision already looks more costly after the opening weekend. Middlesbrough began their league campaign with a late 2-1 victory over Lincoln City, whereas Southampton fell to a 2-1 defeat against Watford, and Wolves could only draw 2-2 with Blackburn Rovers.

There is obviously an enormous amount of football still to be played in the Championship this season, but Lankshear's immediate impact at The Riverside only emphasises what those clubs have potentially missed.

Will Lankshear has hit the ground running with Middlesbrough

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The easiest way to answer why Southampton and Wolves could be reeling is simply to look at Lankshear's start to life on Teesside. He has scored all three of Middlesbrough's goals across their opening two competitive matches, immediately demonstrating why the club were willing to make such a significant investment in spite of his age.

Lankshear opened his account in the 1-0 Carabao Cup victory over Wrexham before scoring twice in the 2-1 league win against Lincoln over the weekend. The final goal being in the 91st minute of the match, which is exactly the sort of beginning Middlesbrough supporters would have dreamed of when the striker arrived from Tottenham.

More importantly, his goals have already translated into results. Boro have won both of their opening games, and Lankshear has been the decisive figure in each. It is far too early to suggest he will dominate the Championship, but the early signs are certainly encouraging.

For Southampton and Wolves, watching a player they wanted immediately score three times for a direct promotion rival will be particularly frustrating. Raul Jimenez and Cyle Larin may have got off to strong starts of their own but both are the wrong side of 30, while Lankshear has plenty of potential to improve and eventually make it to a higher level.

Will Lankshear's potential is exciting for Middlesbrough and a blow for other Championship suitors

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The biggest concern for Southampton and Wolves is that they may not simply have missed out on a player who can score goals this season. They may have missed the opportunity to sign someone whose ceiling is considerably higher than the Championship.

Lankshear is only 21 and has already spent time around Tottenham's first-team, while his experience with West Brom and Oxford means he has been gradually building the physical needs and tactical understanding required for English senior football. Boro are therefore potentially buying a player who can help them win promotion now while also becoming a Premier League asset in the future.

That is what makes the deal particularly attractive. If Lankshear continues developing at this rate, it is difficult to imagine him remaining outside the Premier League indefinitely. A strong Championship campaign could put him firmly on the radar of top-flight clubs, while promotion with Middlesbrough would offer him the opportunity to establish himself at that level.

There is even an outside England question eventually. Captain Harry Kane is now 33, and England will eventually need to find the next generation of centre-forwards. Lankshear has an enormous amount to do before that becomes realistic, but his age, pedigree and potential make it an intriguing possibility.