The simmering rivalry between Middlesbrough and Southampton appears to take on another intriguing twist in 2026/27, but this time it has nothing to do with the remarkable Spygate story that clouded the final stages of last season.

There is already plenty of bad blood between the two clubs following Southampton’s play-off exclusion and the upheaval that followed, with Tonda Eckert’s team paying the ultimate price for one of the Championship’s most bizarre scandals. The Saints will enter the new season hoping to rebuild both their reputation and their promotion chances.

Middlesbrough, however, have every reason to believe they are on the right track under Kim Hellberg. The pair’s encounters were always likely to be more significant following all that happened off the pitch, but they may now be for a completely other purpose.

As clubs throughout the division continue to improve in what looks to be one of the most competitive Championship seasons in recent memory, Borough appear to have scored one of the window’s major coups from Tottenham Hotspur. It’s the kind of move that sends a message not only to Southampton, but to all other promotion contenders.

Southampton also sought to recruit Will Lanshear from Tottenham Hotspur.

While several of Middlesbrough’s rivals have been consistently recruiting, this appears to be the type of signing capable of truly changing expectations at the Riverside Stadium. According to Keith Downie of Sky Sports, Middlesbrough have agreed to pay an initial £10 million for Spurs attacker Will Lankshear, with an additional £10 million in future add-ons.

According to journalist Alasdair Gold, Spurs negotiated a 20% sell-on option and future matching rights as part of the arrangement, ensuring they retain major control over one of their brightest academy graduates. Nevertheless, it appears to be an excellent bargain for Middlesbrough.

It is a significant investment, but it addresses one of Hellberg’s team’s key weaknesses. Middlesbrough sorely needed a reliable number nine who could consistently convert chances. Hellberg’s possession-based approach has frequently resulted in excellent offensive chances, but Borough has consistently lacked the merciless finisher required to convert domination into victories.

In a promotion race against Burnley, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Southampton, the smallest margins can make all the difference. Having a genuine poacher can make all the difference, and Lankshear certainly fits that description.

During his loan spell with Oxford United last season, the 21-year-old illustrated why he is so highly regarded. Despite playing for a failing team with limited clear-cut opportunities, he scored 11 Championship goals and 12 overall, with four assists in 47 games.

That return is even more astounding when you consider the quality of service provided to him. It’s also why so many second-tier clubs have scouted the centre-forward. Gold previously wrote in Football London about how Sporting CP, Wolves, and Southampton sought Lankshear this summer as well.

Will Lankshear will contribute significantly to Middlesbrough, even against Southampton.

For Hellberg and Middlesbrough, a prolific striker was extremely essential. Lankshear’s finishing instincts have never been in doubt either. He was surprisingly prolific throughout Tottenham’s academy system, with 26 goals in 35 U-21 games demonstrating his ability to consistently post exceptional scoring numbers.

With Tottenham, he established himself as one of the club’s most promising attacking talents. The belief has long been that he simply needed more senior football to turn his potential into consistent first-team performance. He struggled at West Bromwich Albion, but Oxford got a lot out of the 21-year-old.

Middlesbrough are now betting that they will be the club to help him reach the next level of his development. If that occurs, Southampton may once again find themselves watching Middlesbrough have the last laugh. This comes after the Spygate controversy provided Borough supporters with plenty of ammunition for future meetings.

However, Hellberg’s side’s acquisition of one of the Championship’s most exciting young strikers adds to an already heated rivalry. With both clubs expected to compete near the top of the table, the games promised to be among the season’s most anticipated.

The first game between the two takes place in late November, while the second is played at The Riverside in mid-March. Could they be fixtures between two of the Championship’s main contenders? Could Lankshear have a say in the proceedings? It’s an additional layer to the fixture.

Of course, the sell-on with Morgan Rogers and the sale of Hayden Hakney may have made this transfer deal possible, but this move, combined with the lingering memory of all that happened last spring, will make the meeting between Middlesbrough and Southampton in 2026/27 even more intense.