Tottenham are struggling this season after selling Will Lankshear to Middlesbrough
Jamie O'Hara believes Tottenham will regret selling Will Lankshear, describing it as the 'nightmare scenario'.
Middlesbrough signed Lankshear from Spurs this summer in a deal worth an initial £8 million, which could potentially rise to £20m, depending on the striker's success.
And it's so far so good for Lankshear, who has 15 goals so far for Boro, quickly cementing his importance in Kim Hellberg's team.
That's in stark contrast to his former club, with the Boro star only one goal adrift of the entire Spurs side combined so far this term. Dominic Solanke has only one league goal so far this term.
O’Hara told Sky Sports: “We’ve got a problem up front - that’s my concern. We’ve got a massive problem up front.
“Solanke’s not doing it, Richarlison is not even registered, sold Will Lankshear, and now I’m starting to look at it and think, ‘well unless we score from a set-piece or a moment of brilliance, where are the goals coming from?’ Who’s getting us 15 goals?
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“They sold Will Lankshear and that for me is looking like a bit of a nightmare scenario. He’s gone to Middlesbrough and is banging in the goals and performing really well.
“I think, at the moment, he looks like a player that could have really done a job for us, even if it was just someone who could come off the bench.
“He looks like a handful, has good feet, knows where the goal is, makes good runs. And I know he was highly thought of at Spurs, so I’m really surprised they did get rid of him.
“It’s a good question [would he be starting at Spurs?]. I think if he was playing like he has been for Middlesbrough - and I know it’s the Championship - but I think he probably would start.
“Solanke is nowhere near good enough at the moment; he needs to be way better. Whereas Will Lankshear looks like a player we’ve let go and might be one we might regret.
“I know there’s a need to balance the books and selling youngsters gets you 100% profit and all that kind of stuff. That’s ridiculous if you ask me - to have to do that to stay within FFP rules. But Will Lankshear for me looks like a player that we should never have let go.”
As Lankshear thrives at Boro, Premier League clubs are increasingly monitoring the striker with keen interest.
Boro are protected by the fact that they managed to talk Tottenham down in summer negotiations and therefore no buyback clause exists in the deal.
Spurs do have a matching rights agreement, which would allow them to match any offer Boro may accept at some point in the future, while they also have a 20% future sell-on fee.