Will Lankshear's £20m Middlesbrough move is paying off – but promotion is key to keeping him
Middlesbrough sit two points clear at the top of the Championship after a 3-0 win over Charlton Athletic, with Will Lankshear scoring twice to take his tally to 13 goals in 13 league games since his £20m summer move from Tottenham. Aaron McLean says only promotion will keep him at the Riverside.
- Result: Middlesbrough 3-0 Charlton Athletic
- Lankshear's tally: 13 goals in 13 league games since £20m move from Tottenham
- League position: Middlesbrough two points clear at the top of the Championship
- West Ham's home record: All three Championship defeats this season have come at the London Stadium
- Southampton's form: Fifth in the Championship after 4-1 win over QPR, despite a four-point deduction
- Fleetwood's cup run: Carabao Cup quarter-final with Everton after knocking out Arsenal
What was said
"Before a ball was kicked this season, I said Will Lankshear would be an England international in the next few years. I watched him at Oxford last season and I loved the way he played and the way he scored goals in a struggling team. He's got something, that X-factor. Now he's showing exactly why Middlesbrough spent £20m on him. The biggest thing for Boro is making sure they get promoted with him in order to keep him."
"The longer he keeps up this type of form, he's just giving himself a bigger price tag and a bigger reputation and before long, bigger clubs will be coming and saying, 'We need a Will Lankshear in our side'."
"I think England is too soon. For his progression, I don't think he needs to be thrown into that limelight yet. He just needs to make sure he has a good season, finish top goalscorer in the Championship, get himself into the Premier League and then those type of questions will be asked."
"West Ham just don't seem to be handling the pressure. The fanbase is very split in terms of whether they want Nuno Espirito Santo in charge but the thing you have to do when playing for West Ham in front of 60,000 fans is put in a performance and if you're in the Championship, you have to win."
"What is the reason for them conceding so many early goals at home and not scoring themselves? Are they not paying the opposition enough respect or are the opposition thinking they start slowly and they've got a soft underbelly and they can get themselves a goal. Whatever it is, it needs to be addressed and fixed."
"When you have a lovely stadium and playing surface, teams want to go there and enjoy it. If you make your home ground a fortress, that can work for you but at the moment, the London Stadium is not a fortress and teams are going there and enjoying the experience, which is the total opposite of what West Ham need."
"Southampton are doing brilliantly. They've obliterated their four-point deduction at the start of the season and without that, they would be sitting second."
"I just think it was the right thing for the club to keep Tonda Eckert. They respect how good he is and how well motivated and organised the club and the team are under him. Yes, mistakes were made last season but they have put that behind them. If anything, there is even more reason for them to kick on and go and get promoted this season and right the wrongs of last season."
"Everyone is playing to their level and that's the difference between them and say, West Ham. James Ward-Prowse is back playing the football we were used to when he was at Southampton before. James Bree, who went out on loan last season, has come back in and is playing out of his skin. They also have that siege mentality about them of, 'Everyone wants us to fail' because of what happened in May. It's them against the world and it's working for them."
"League One is extremely tight, but are Luton top-two contenders? I wouldn't say so, just yet. They are capable of being in and around it and being in the play-offs, but I feel there are a few better clubs, who are more consistent."
"Promotion is a must for the Hatters this season, I don't think anything else will be acceptable and I'm sure that's what Jack Wilshere's expectations are. But their level of consistency needs to improve. They're not as consistent as Huddersfield or Stockport and I would put Bradford in there - although they are struggling to score goals since Michael Duff went in, but they are keeping clean sheets. A club like Luton will be looking to break into that pack and if they put a sustained run together, there is no reason why they can't."
"What an incredible achievement in knocking out Arsenal. For the club, for everyone involved. I spoke with (assistant head coach) Mark Yeates when the fixture first came out and since the Arsenal result and the place is absolutely bouncing."
"Today was the first of six league fixtures between now and the quarter-final with Everton and it is important to get their League Two form in order. They had lost five out of their past seven in the league so it was really important they got three points. Now they have more five more before welcoming Everton to make sure they go into that in a good league position and don't let the cup run hinder what they're trying to achieve."
"Fleetwood were up against top quality opposition and for them to come through it in the manner they did, full credit to them. I'm glad they got another home draw because it gives them another chance and they'll go into that Everton tie absolutely full of belief that they can go exactly what they did against Arsenal."
McLean's assessment of Lankshear is a clear warning to Middlesbrough: the striker's form is making him a target for bigger clubs. The pundit believes Lankshear has the potential to be an England international but should not be rushed. For West Ham, McLean identifies a mental fragility at the London Stadium, where opponents are enjoying the spacious pitch. Southampton's revival under Tonda Eckert is praised, with McLean highlighting the impact of James Ward-Prowse and James Bree. Luton's consistency is questioned, while Fleetwood's cup heroics are celebrated but with a reminder of their league priorities.
The numbers
- Lankshear's goals: 13 in 13 league games for Middlesbrough
- Lankshear's transfer fee: £20m from Tottenham
- Middlesbrough's lead: Two points at the top of the Championship
- West Ham's home defeats: Three Championship losses this season, all at the London Stadium
- Southampton's position: Fifth, despite a four-point deduction
- Fleetwood's league position before win: 18th in League Two
- Fleetwood's recent league form: Lost five of their past seven before beating Bristol Rovers 3-1
Why Middlesbrough's promotion push is crucial for Lankshear's future
Will Lankshear has been a revelation since joining Middlesbrough for £20m from Tottenham in the summer. His 13 goals in 13 league games have fired Boro to the top of the Championship, two points clear. But as Aaron McLean points out, the striker's form is a double-edged sword. The better he performs, the more attention he attracts from Premier League clubs. Middlesbrough's best chance of keeping him is to secure promotion this season.
McLean also highlights West Ham's issues at the London Stadium. The Hammers have lost all three of their Championship defeats at home, conceding three goals in each of their last two home games. The pundit questions whether the team is handling the pressure of playing in front of 60,000 fans and suggests opponents are exploiting a soft underbelly. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo faces a challenge to turn the London Stadium into a fortress.
Southampton, meanwhile, are thriving under Tonda Eckert. After last season's Spygate controversy, the Saints have bounced back strongly, with James Ward-Prowse and James Bree impressing. McLean believes keeping Eckert was the right decision and that Southampton's siege mentality could drive them to promotion. Luton Town's inconsistency is a concern, while Fleetwood Town's Carabao Cup run has been a boost, but their League Two form needs urgent attention.
Talking points
- Can Middlesbrough hold onto Will Lankshear if they fail to win promotion? His form is already attracting Premier League interest, and a failure to go up could force a sale.
- Is Nuno Espirito Santo the right man to fix West Ham's home woes? The fanbase is split, and the team's record at the London Stadium is alarming.
- Should Southampton be considered promotion favourites? They are fifth despite a four-point deduction and have key players performing well.
- Are Luton Town genuine top-two contenders? McLean doubts their consistency, and their upcoming match against Huddersfield will be telling.
What happens next
Middlesbrough will look to extend their lead at the top of the Championship in their next fixture, while West Ham must address their home form quickly to avoid falling further behind. Southampton aim to continue their climb, and Luton face a crucial test against Huddersfield Town on Tuesday. Fleetwood Town have five more league games before their Carabao Cup quarter-final with Everton, and they need to pick up points to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle.
Frequently asked questions
How many goals has Will Lankshear scored for Middlesbrough?
Will Lankshear has scored 13 goals in 13 league games since his £20m summer move from Tottenham.
Why are West Ham struggling at home?
Aaron McLean suggests West Ham are not handling the pressure of playing in front of 60,000 fans and that opponents are exploiting their slow starts and soft underbelly at the London Stadium.
Who is Southampton's manager?
Tonda Eckert is Southampton's manager, and Aaron McLean believes the club was right to keep him despite last season's Spygate controversy.
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