Tottenham Hotspur have sent their exciting young striker Will Lankshear on loan to Oxford United for the 2025/26 campaign, but the move should set alarm bells ringing for the player.
After surviving relegation last season against the odds, many expect Oxford United to struggle this term.
In our Championship preview for 2025/26, we predicted Oxford will be among the relegation candidates, and given their lack of transfer activity this summer, it’s easy to see why.
However, Gary Rowett has now added some much-needed firepower to his ranks ahead of the opening round of fixtures.
Will Lankshear joins Oxford United on loan
Oxford were tipped to sign Lankshear on Monday evening, and by Tuesday morning the move was confirmed by the club.
The 20-year-old will spend the 2025/26 campaign with the U’s in an attempt to gain first-team experience away from Tottenham.
Discussing the move, Lankshear said: “This is a really exciting opportunity for me to be joining a great club. I learned so much last season in the first team at Tottenham and West Brom and I’m ready to now kick on with Oxford United.
“I’ve had some really good conversations with the manager, and I feel like this is the right place for me to be. I love nothing more than scoring goals. I want to do my best to bring as many as I can this season.
“My game is about more than just goals though. I’m a player that has taken all the information from the top professionals I’ve worked with and I’m now ready to bring it together, work hard for the team and deliver for the club.”
Meanwhile, Rowett expressed his hope that Lankshear can make an “immediate impact” at Oxford, while Head of Football Operations, Ed Waldron, added that Lankshear will be an “important player” in the team.
Dane Scarlett struggled at Oxford United last season
Lankshear will certainly be hoping those statements from his new manager and Head of Football are not simply bluster and that he and the club fulfil their promises.
The new Oxford United signing will surely be looking at the way his Spurs teammate, Dane Scarlett, struggled while on loan with the U’s last season as a warning as to what could play out for him if he’s not careful.
Scarlett made 20 appearances in total for Oxford between August and January, scoring four goals. On paper that doesn’t look too bad, but the young forward was only given 788 minutes, which is an average of just under 40 minutes per game.
In fact, Scarlett only started eight games for Oxford, with Rowett consistently overlooking the 21-year-old. If Lankshear does not get off to a good start with his new club, he could well find himself returning to Tottenham in the New Year just as Scarlett did.
Indeed, Lankshear featured 11 times for West Brom last season during his loan spell with the Baggies but failed to score. He will be desperate to prove that was an anomaly now.