MusaFormer Tottenham Hotspur manager Tim Sherwood has criticised the club’s approach to youth development following the summer departure of highly rated academy striker Will Lankshear.
The 21-year-old forward left Tottenham permanently in July, joining Championship side Middlesbrough in a deal worth an initial £10 million, with the fee potentially rising to £20 million through performance-related add-ons.
Lankshear’s departure has come under greater scrutiny as Tottenham continue to struggle in front of goal under head coach Roberto De Zerbi. The young striker previously enjoyed an impressive spell with the club’s academy, winning the Premier League 2 Player of the Season award during Tottenham’s title-winning U21 campaign in 2023/24.
Reacting to Lankshear’s exit in a post shared by Gary Ward on X, Sherwood suggested that Tottenham never gave the academy graduate a genuine opportunity to prove whether he could make the step up to first-team football.
Sherwood said:
“I’m not saying he (Will Lankshear) was the answer, but I think he deserves an opportunity to suggest he might be. He never got that opportunity.”
“Spurs just look to go out and spend money and block up pathways of young kids. So he’s better off just going and getting a career somewhere else, and he’s doing very well.”
Lankshear Thriving Away From Tottenham
Sherwood’s comments come as Lankshear continues to make a strong impression since leaving North London.
After scoring 11 goals during his loan spell at Oxford United in the 2025/26 season, the striker has quickly established himself at Middlesbrough. He has scored six goals in his first eight appearances across all competitions for the Championship club.
His impressive form has also earned him recognition at international level, with Lankshear receiving a call-up to the England Under-21 squad. He marked his debut for the Young Lions with a goal in their 4-2 victory over Kazakhstan.
The striker’s rapid progress has inevitably brought renewed attention to Tottenham’s decision to sell him, particularly given the club’s difficult start to the 2026/27 Premier League campaign.
Spurs currently sit 20th in the table with just two points from their opening five matches and have struggled to turn their opportunities into goals.
Tottenham have invested heavily in strengthening their attack during recent transfer windows, but Sherwood believes the club’s recruitment approach can make it difficult for academy players to break into the first team.
The former Spurs manager, who famously handed Harry Kane an extended opportunity in Tottenham’s first-team setup in 2014, believes young players can be overlooked when clubs repeatedly choose to spend heavily on established or external talent.
With Lankshear now flourishing at Middlesbrough, his progress is likely to keep Tottenham’s decision under the spotlight, particularly while the club continues to search for greater attacking efficiency.
Musa
