Tottenham's forward line looks set for a shake-up before the tour to Australia and New Zealand even kicks off.

Will Lankshear, who impressed on loan at Oxford United last season with 11 goals in 34 Championship starts, has joined promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough for an initial £10m with a further £10m in potential add-ons.

Spurs are believed to have both a sell-on clause and first refusal on any future bids, such is the 21 year-old's potential, and the club have now brought in up to £34million combined from the sales of Alfie Devine, Tynan Thompson and Lankshear.

His departure from the travelling squad leaves a gap up front - and 18 year-old Mason Melia looks ready to fill it.

Roberto De Zerbi has never been shy about trusting academy players when the moment calls for it. During his time at Brighton, he spoke about the culture he tries to build around youth development.

“The recruitment of Brighton is top, but I want to congratulate the coaches of the academy. For example, the under-21 coach of Brighton is a top, top coach," he said.

"When I work with his young players I understand immediately the level of the session, the level of the idea of the coach of the under-21s.

"I have a big respect for the academy, for the young players, especially because I work in Brighton and the policy is like this. We have many potential important players... when we need them we are happy if we can give them the chance to play.”

That philosophy paid off on the South coast with the likes of Evan Ferguson and Jack Hinshelwood becoming first-team regulars, and it looks set to follow him to north London.

Tottenham overhaul hands opportunity to 18 year-old forward

Alasdair Gold has suggested Melia is the man to benefit from the changes up top, speaking in his latest Youtube video.

Melia arrived at Tottenham in February 2025 in a deal reported as an Irish Premier League record €4m (£3.4m) fee from St Patrick's Athletic, with his professional contract formally starting in January 2026.

An all-round striker with power, pace and a strong finishing instinct, he racked up close to 100 senior appearances in Ireland before the move, scoring 13 goals in his final season at Richmond Park and leaving as a fan favourite.

He's since earned senior caps for the Republic of Ireland and made his mark quickly in Tottenham's youth setup, training with the first team and already looking like a level above Premier League 2, despite only featuring six times for the Under-21s before an injury curtailed his progress.

At six foot one with two years on Lankshear, he represents a different, longer-term project - but one Spurs clearly believe is worth accelerating.

Melia's path won't be identical to any of those names, but a manager willing to blood young talent is exactly what's needed to replicate the pathway offered to Spurs graduates gone by.

It's a theme running through Hotspur Way this summer - Jamie Donley, another academy product who's impressed De Zerbi in training, looks set for a similar chance on the same tour. You can read the full story on his path to a first-team opportunity here.