Spurs will reportedly scrap plans to send the striker back out on loan next season should they be relegated from the Premier League.

The 20-year-old is set to be given a chance to impress new boss Roberto De Zerbi, according to SportsBoom, if worst comes to worst for the North London club, with Lankshear becoming a fan favourite and standout star for the relegation-battling U’s.

Will Lankshear celebrates tapping in Oxford United’s second goal against Preston (Image: Oxford United)

Lankshear has bagged 10 goals and three assists in a season of struggle for the Yellows and has played 43 times in a breakout season for the youngster who is on loan until the end of the season.

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It was recently reported that the centre forward turned down moves to higher-placed Championship sides in January in order to see out the fight for survival in OX4, further endearing himself to the U’s faithful.

New Tottenham Hotspur boss Roberto De Zerbi (Image: Steven Paston/PA Wire)

Lankshear’s parent club Spurs are currently fighting for their lives in the Premier League, sitting 17th and one point above the bottom three.

Staff at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium are apparently convinced that the England Under-20 international has both the experience and pedigree to stake a claim for a regular first-team role.

The Lilywhites recently appointed former Brighton and Marseille boss De Zerbi on a five-year contract, replacing Igor Tudor in an effort to stave of relegation, with the Italian seemingly trusted to steady the ship if the club does go down.

The Foxes were hit with the deduction in February as a punishment for breaching the EFL’s profit and sustainability rules by £20.8 million in a three year period to June 2024.

The club was also found guilty of breaching Premier League rules during their time in the top tier of English football for failing to provide their annual accounts to the league by the specified deadline.

Accepting of the decision, the club said in a statement: “With the matter now at an end and five games of the season remaining, everyone at the club is fully focused on the matches in front of us and on shaping the outcome of our season through our results on the pitch.

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Sam Long sweeps home the opener for Oxford United against Leicester City (Image: ©Jason Dawson)

“We know this has been a challenging period, and we thank our supporters for the backing they continue to give the team. The responsibility now is to ensure these remaining games are approached with the focus and intent our current situation demands.”

Leicester currently lie on place above Oxford United in 22nd, goal difference separating the two sides in the battle for Championship survival.

The U’s secured a draw and a win in their two matches against the Foxes this season, a 2-1 win in January coming just a few weeks before the points deduction which was Matt Bloomfield’s first victory as head coach after taking over from now-Leicester boss Gary Rowett.

The striker, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, scored his 10th goal of the season to put Oxford ahead 2-1 in the 81st minute at Fratton Park, but an Andre Dozzell equaliser snatched two points from the U’s grasp with three minutes to go.

United should have beaten Hull City in their last match after creating good chances but only managed a draw, and it was only four games ago that the Yellows forfeited a win to draw with Charlton Athletic in similar circumstances.

“It’s a very tough place to come so I think if you offer us a draw before the game, of course we want to win the game, but I think we’ll take it,” said a dejected Lankshear after the game on Easter Monday.

“Just the way the game went with the sending off and the chances we had, I thought we played pretty well.

Jamie Donley carries the ball for Oxford United (Image: Oxford United)

“I also feel like, you know, why it hurts so much is for me, I think there’s just been one too many games this season where that’s happened. And it’s very disappointing.

“I think it’s just one too many games.

“That’s kind of been the story of our season. We’ve just sort of come up short in a lot of the games.

“But we’ve got to dust ourselves off and keep positive and go into the last five games.

“Because at the end of the day, we didn’t lose. And I think that’s the main thing. We’ve still got a point on the board.”

The 20-year-old’s header saw him reach double figures for goals in all competitions this season.

Video thoughts after the crazy early kick-off between #OxfordUnited and #Pompey… 💭

Chatting about the red card decisions, dropping points, conceding early, and looking ahead 👀#oufc 🟡 pic.twitter.com/0frvioI4qB

— malachi (@MalachiObrey) April 6, 2026

“Hopefully I can get a few more,” Lankshear continued.

“I think I’m going to need a few more if we’re going to stay up.

“I’m going to keep pushing and keep going and keep scoring goals. Because that’s my passion. That’s what I’m here to do.

“I’m really happy that I could score today. And just disappointing that it wasn’t the winning goal.”

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Teammate Brodie Spencer scored his first goal for the club, with Lankshear revealing he had a sense that the Northern Irishman’s moment would come against Pompey.

“I’m buzzing for Brodie.

“I know that he’s been really working hard to score his first goal for Oxford. And I think he’s been a brilliant player for us this season.

“I did actually tell him yesterday, although he doesn’t remember it apparently, I did say that he was going to score, I felt like he was going to score.

“I’m really happy for him”