Will Lankshear works his way into Roberto De Zerbi’s plans at Tottenham after Oxford United latest
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Credit: Imago Thu 7 May 2026 7:45, UK Roberto De Zerbi has been shown exactly why he must give Will Lankshear a chance to prove himself at Tottenham this summer after Oxford United’s heartfelt message to the loanee striker. Lankshear’s loan spell at the Kassam Stadium has concluded after the end of the Championship season last weekend.He was unable to help Oxford avoid relegation to League One, but won plaudits throughout the campaign for his impressive individual performances.Tottenham are facing an uncertain future as they battle relegation from the Premier League, with several strikers potentially set to leave this summer.Lankshear should not be involved in Spurs’ transfer plans, as it is clear that he has a bright future by how loved he has been by Oxford and their supporters.
MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Oxford’s message to Will Lankshear shows why he should be trusted by SpursLankshear bagged 12 goals in 47 appearances across all competitions for the U’s, and won their Young Player of the Year award for his impressive performances.He is a ready-made Championship forward who would clearly thrive in a much stronger side than relegation-threatened Oxford.Football Insider recently revealed that Spurs turned down loan offers for Lankshear in January from the likes of Middlesbrough and Ipswich, so he is highly rated across the division.The 21-year-old has now proven himself in the second tier, and Oxford’s new message to him should tell De Zerbi everything he needs to know about his character and determination.Appearances (starts)44 (34)Goals11Assists2Shot accuracy %38%Non-penalty xG per 900.35Chances created per 900.94Fouls won per 901.72Penalties won2Lankshear’s 2025-26 Championship statsThe club took to X on Wednesday to say: “We can confirm that Will Lankshear has returned to his parent club, Tottenham Hotspur. “A fantastic addition to the squad from the moment he arrived, Will embraced everything it means to represent Oxford United.
You’ll always be a Yellow.”Aside from his goals, Lankshear clearly gave his all for the U’s and tried his hardest to keep them in the Championship.Spurs’ players have lacked such effort and hard work this season, and he will surely be kept on as an option if they are relegated this month.Even if they do survive, De Zerbi could certainly do a lot worse than give Lankshear a chance to prove himself in pre-season, especially with Randal Kolo Muani set to leave and Richarlison facing an uncertain future.De Zerbi may have also made his mind up on Jamie Donley after Oxford spell21-year-old Donley joined fellow Spurs loanee Lankshear at Oxford in January after a tough short-term spell at Stoke City.We can confirm that Will Lankshear has returned to his parent club, Tottenham Hotspur.Will made 46 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring 12 goals and earning our 2025/26 Golden Boot.A fantastic addition to the squad from the moment he arrived, Will embraced… pic.twitter.com/LJyaNFTzUA— Oxford United (@OUFCOfficial) May 6, 2026 View Tweet The attacking midfielder registered just one goal and two assists in 17 Championship appearances across his spells with both clubs, so De Zerbi will most likely not be lining up a role for him in his squad next term.Oxford do hold the option to buy him this summer for around £4.5m, but that is surely not set to be activated as he returns to North London.Another loan, or even a permanent move away, is looming for the Northern Ireland playmaker after his disappointing campaign. Don’t Miss a Beat: Your Tottenham Hotspur Insider Access Get the full story from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Hotspur Way with our dedicated expert hubs: Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from N17 and Hotspur Way.