Middlesbrough are confident of keeping top scorer Will Lankshear at the Riverside Stadium beyond the January transfer window. The club have placed a £30million price tag on the 21-year-old striker to ward off interest from Premier League clubs including Newcastle United and Leeds United.
Leeds United are understood to be monitoring Lankshear as they seek to resolve their striker concerns. Newcastle United are also among the top-flight clubs keeping tabs on his development after a prolific start to the Championship season. Middlesbrough, however, are under no pressure to sell their key asset in the mid-season window.
The club believe Lankshear is a key part of manager Kim Hellberg's plans as they push for promotion. The striker himself is happy to stay and continue his fine form on Teesside, making a mid-season exit appear unlikely. He has scored 13 goals in 13 league appearances since joining from Tottenham in the summer, having spent last season on loan at Oxford United.
Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown insists the player's best path is to remain with Middlesbrough. "Will Lankshear's best option would be to stay doing what he's doing with Middlesbrough," Brown said. He argued that moving to the Premier League now is far from certain to yield continued success, whereas staying helps both the player and the club achieve their immediate goals.
Middlesbrough's next Championship fixture is at home to Bristol City on 21 November. Keeping Lankshear for that match and beyond is seen as vital for their campaign, with the club's full squad set to be relied upon.
More detail at Football Insider
