Middlesbrough are laughing at Southampton again and it doesn’t involve Spygate | OneFootball

Middlesbrough are laughing at Southampton again this summer. However, this time it does not involve Spygate for Kim Hellberg's side but Spurs instead.

The simmering rivalry between Middlesbrough and Southampton looks set to take on another fascinating twist in 2026/27, but this time it has nothing to do with the extraordinary Spygate saga that overshadowed the closing stages of last season.

There is already plenty of bad blood between the two clubs after Southampton's play-off expulsion and the fallout that followed, with Tonda Eckert's side paying the ultimate price for one of the Championship's most astonishing scandals. The Saints will head into the new campaign looking to rebuild both their reputation and their promotion challenge.

Middlesbrough, meanwhile, have every reason to believe they are heading in right direction under Kim Hellberg. The meetings between the pair were always likely to carry added significance after everything that unfolded off the pitch, but they may now do so for another reason entirely.

As clubs across the division continue strengthening in what promises to be one of the most competitive Championship seasons in recent memory, Boro appear to have landed one of the window's biggest coups from Tottenham Hotspur. It is the sort of move that sends a message not only to Southampton but to every other promotion hopeful.

Southampton also wanted to sign Will Lankshear from Tottenham Hotspur

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While many of Middlesbrough's rivals have recruited steadily, this feels like the kind of signing capable of genuinely shifting expectations around the Riverside Stadium. Keith Downie of Sky Sports reports that Middlesbrough have agreed a deal worth an initial £10 million for Spurs striker Will Lankshear, with a further £10 million in potential add-ons.

Other reports from journalist Alasdair Gold add that Spurs have negotiated both a 20% sell-on clause and future matching rights as part of the agreement, ensuring they retain significant control over one of their brightest academy graduates. That said, it looks like an outstanding deal for Middlesbrough.

It is a major investment, but one that addresses perhaps the biggest weakness in Hellberg's squad. Middlesbrough desperately needed a reliable number nine capable of consistently converting chances. Hellberg's possession-based approach has frequently created promising attacking situations, yet Boro too often lacked the ruthless finisher needed to turn dominance into victories.

In a promotion race against clubs like Burnley, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Southampton, things can be decided by the finest of margins. Having a genuine poacher can make all the difference and Lankshear certainly fits that profile.

The 21-year-old demonstrated exactly why he is so highly regarded during his loan spell at Oxford United last season. Despite playing in a struggling side that created relatively few clear-cut opportunities, he still managed 11 Championship goals, and 12 overall, with four assists on top of that in his 47 appearances.

That return becomes even more impressive when considering the quality of service available to him. It's also why so many second tier clubs have cast eyes over the centre-forward. Gold has previously written in football london to explain Sporting CP, Wolves, and Southampton wanted Lankshear this summer as well.

Will Lankshear will add plenty to Middlesbrough, even against Southampton

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Regarding Hellberg and Middlesbrough, a prolific striker was absolutely vital. With Lankshear, finishing instincts have never really been in doubt either. He was remarkably prolific throughout Tottenham's academy system, with his 26 goals in 35 U-21 games highlighting how he regularly posted outstanding scoring numbers.

With Spurs, he established himself as one of the club's standout attacking prospects. The belief has long been that he simply required regular senior football to translate that potential into consistent first-team production. He struggled for West Bromwich Albion but Oxford got plenty out of the 21-year-old.

Middlesbrough are now betting that they will be the club to unlock the next stage of his development. Should that happen, Southampton may once again find themselves watching Middlesbrough enjoy the last laugh. This comes after the Spygate controversy already handed Boro supporters plenty of ammunition ahead of future meetings.

However, seeing Hellberg's side beat the Saints to one of the Championship's most exciting young strikers only adds another layer to an increasingly spicy rivalry. With both clubs expected to challenge near the top of the table, the fixtures already promised to be among the season's most eagerly anticipated.

The first game between the pair is in late-November, while the game at The Riverside is in mid-March. Could they again be fixtures involving two of the Championship's main contenders? Could Lankshear have a say in proceedings? It's another added layer to the fixture.

Of course, the sell-on with Morgan Rogers and the sale of Hayden Hakney may have made this transfer deal possible, but thanks to this move, and the lingering memories of everything that unfolded last spring, there will be even more needle when Middlesbrough and Southampton meet in 2026/27.