Tottenham now have crazy academy ace who could be their next Harry Kane and not Mikey Moore anymore
Tottenham Hotspur has experienced significant upheaval in recent years, going through four full-time managers in as many years.
High-profile names like José Mourinho, Nuno Espírito Santo, and Antonio Conte have all tried to bring success to the club but fell short of the expectations set by the fans and the club.
Despite the managerial carousel, none of them could deliver the consistent success or the exciting brand of football the supporters craved.
Enter Ange Postecoglou, the latest man at the helm, who has so far been able to reignite the style of football that has endeared him to Tottenham fans.
Although it’s too early to fully assess his success, Postecoglou has managed to accomplish this without Harry Kane, arguably the greatest player in the club’s history.
Kane’s departure left a gaping hole in the team, but hope is on the horizon with a new academy graduate who has the potential to follow in his footsteps and become a prolific goal scorer.
Kane’s legacy at Tottenham is unmatched. He made his Spurs debut in 2011 during a Europa League qualification match against Hearts.
In the early stages of his career, Kane was sent out on loan to clubs like Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich City, and Leicester City, where he didn’t particularly impress, scoring only twice in 15 appearances for the Foxes during the 2012/13 campaign.
However, his fortunes changed upon his return to Tottenham. By the end of the 2013/14 season, Kane had started to make his mark on the first team, scoring four goals and providing two assists across various competitions.
The 2014/15 season saw Kane explode onto the scene, scoring 31 goals in 51 appearances and solidifying himself as one of the most feared strikers in world football.
His impact on Tottenham was undeniable, and by the time he left for Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023, Kane had accumulated 280 goals and 61 assists in 435 appearances.
His remarkable output, averaging a goal involvement every 1.27 games, left a legacy that seemed impossible to replace. However, Tottenham’s academy may have unearthed the next big thing in Will Lankshear.
While much attention has been given to other promising talents in the academy, such as Mikey Moore, the spotlight now turns to Will Lankshear, an exciting 19-year-old striker who has the potential to become a key player for Spurs in the coming years.
Lankshear has consistently proven his ability to find the back of the net in Tottenham’s youth ranks. In 41 appearances across various junior teams, he has scored 31 goals and provided five assists, boasting an impressive goal involvement rate that mirrors Kane’s early promise.
| Team | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Goal Involvements per Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U18s | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1.20 |
| U21s | 34 | 26 | 3 | 0.85 |
| Youth League | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0.50 |
Lankshear’s goal-scoring prowess has not gone unnoticed. Described by Spurs expert Jon Wenham as “an absolute unit for his age,” the young forward averages a goal involvement every 1.13 games in the academy.
While his youth team statistics are promising, transitioning to the first team is a different challenge. However, Lankshear’s physicality and finishing ability provide hope that he can make the leap.
Comparisons to Kane are inevitable, given the trajectory of both players through Tottenham’s youth system. It’s worth remembering that Kane wasn’t always seen as a prolific scorer during his formative years.
He managed only nine goals in 13 youth team appearances but supplemented that with nine assists. Over time, Kane developed into a world-class forward, and while it’s unfair to expect Lankshear to replicate Kane’s achievements, there’s a real chance the young striker could make a significant impact in the coming years.
While Postecoglou’s squad can’t count on Lankshear becoming an immediate first-team regular, the potential is there.
If Lankshear can develop into even half the player Kane was for Tottenham, the club will have unearthed a genuine talent. For now, Spurs fans can look forward to seeing how Lankshear progresses, knowing that the next chapter in the club’s storied history may already be in the making.
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