Will Lankshear may be offered the chance to be the leading man under Ryan Reynolds after a season defined by cameo showings.
The 19-year-old has been no stranger to comparisons to Harry Kane during his Spurs tenure and now is following his pathway on loan.
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Lilywhites boss Ange Postecoglou has publicly confirmed the striker could be allowed to leave on loan in January to gain more minutes.
“We can’t afford to let anyone go at the moment,” he said.
“Alfie Dorrington has gone out on loan and it will be probably be similar for young Will as well, because he hasn’t played a lot.”
Tottenham once had a similar conundrum over a young Kane, who didn’t break through in north London until the age of 21.
The England captain made his full Spurs Premier League debut in 2014 following several loan spells around the EFL at Leyton Orient, Norwich, Leicester, and Millwall.
Kane has since credited the latter club for being a huge part of his evolution as a player and now the same could happen for Lankshear.
“My loan at Millwall was a big part of my development,” Kane told The Guardian in 2018. “I was 18, we were in a relegation battle and it turned me into a man.
“I played in difficult, high-pressure games and I managed to come out of it positively. I had a great time at the club.”
Following his EFL loans, Kane went on to become Tottenham and England’s record goalscorer, before joining Bayern Munich.
Lankshear would understandably look to the 31-year-old for the ideal pathway, having similarly started his youth career at Arsenal.
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Like Kane, the England U20 international was on the academy books at Arsenal before being released and finding a home with their rivals.
Lankshear’s playing style and physique – and even the occasional goal celebration – have also furthered the comparisons between the two.
He told Football.London: “Harry Kane is unbelievable, [Erling] Haaland as well. I really admire them two. They’re similar to me in ways, but obviously, if I could have a quarter of their career I’d be very happy.”
Lankshear has enjoyed a rapid rise to Tottenham’s first-team picture since joining from Sheffield United for £2million in August 2022.
The teenager scored 23 goals for the club’s under-21s team last year en route to becoming the first Spurs starlet to win the Premier League 2 Player of the Season award.
His exploits understandably put him in high demand for EFL clubs in the summer, with several academy teammates heading out on loan.
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League One Wrexham, part-owned by Hollywood icon Ryan Reynolds, were among the leading suitors for his signature.
Sunderland and Hull City were also in the mix but Lankshear ultimately stayed put such was Tottenham’s belief in his ability.
He had looked to have rewarded that show of faith during his first team debut in October during a Europa League win over Ferencvaros.
Lankshear opened his senor account in the same competition against Galatasaray the following month but his big moment was marred by receiving a red card later in the defeat.
The starlet has not featured in the Europa League since and has managed just nine minutes of Premier League football this term.
He was an unused substitute for the 3-0 extra-time win over National League Tamworth in the FA Cup third-round.
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Postecoglou confirmed afterwards that Lankshear would likely be loaned out which could open the door for Wrexham to return.
The Red Dragons suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to struggling Shrewsbury to leave themselves two points adrift of League One leaders Birmingham City, having played three matches more.
Former star striker Paul Mullin has endured a dip in form post-back surgery with just two goals in the third-tier.
Club director Shaun Harvey was quoted by Wales Online confirming manager Phil Parkinson will be backed this month: “Rob and Ryan have always supported Phil’s ambition.
“We will be active in the transfer market during January, because we’re in a position of strength. If we go any further forward from where we are now, we get promoted, and that is the objective.”
Parkinson himself told BBC Sport: “We’re looking and obviously like any other transfer window the players we have identified – they’re hard to get. They’re going to have to improve what we’ve got, which won’t be easy.”
