Roberto De Zerbi looks on after Tottenham Hotspur's match against Everton
Darren Bent believes Tottenham's decision to let Will Lankshear depart for Middlesbrough stunk of 'big club snobbery'.
Spurs sold Lankshear to Boro in the summer for an initial £10million, and it's proved to be a shrewd acquisition from the Championship outfit thus far.
2Lankshear is three goals away from matching his tally for the entire 25/26 Championship season (11 goals)Credit: Getty
The 21-year-old sits top of the Championship scoring charts with eight goals to his name, the latest of which came in a 3-2 win over Stoke City on Tuesday.
Given Spurs took five games to score their first league goal of the 2026/27 campaign, some have questioned why the club allowed Lankshear to leave.
But Bent, a former Tottenham striker himself, felt Spurs' financial muscle, which led them to spend over £300m on new players in the summer, allowed them to think they could get better from elsewhere.
"I just think sometimes there's a big club snobbery," Bent said on talkSPORT Drive.
"They're Spurs, they've got all the money in the world."
Why Darren Bent believes Will Lankshear is destined for the Premier League
Although Spurs may come to regret letting Lankshear go, Bent reminded supporters that there's every chance things wouldn't have gone so well had the 21-year-old remained in north London.
However, on Lankshear's current trajectory, Bent is adamant he will be a Premier League striker sooner than later.
"I've got no doubt whatsoever, if Middlesbrough get promoted or whoever goes up or there's a team there, he'll be playing in the Premier League," Bent said.
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"He is more than good enough."
Darren Bent lists Will Lankshear's standout qualities
When asked what exactly makes Lankshear a future Premier League player, Bent added: "He's a big, physical powerhouse. Good movement, good finisher, composed.
2Lankshear made six appearances for Spurs before he left for BoroCredit: Getty
"What I like about him is he scores all types of goals. He's always there or thereabouts.
"You get some strikers that score a lot of goals, but they haven't got that sense of where the ball's going to drop."
Will Lankshear continues upward trajectory
Lankshear's blistering start at Boro earned him his England Under-21 debut in the recent international break.
The 21-year-old made the most of the experience with a goal on debut against Kazakhstan having come on as a second-half substitute.
His bright cameo resulted in a starting berth against Slovakia, although the contest finished 0-0.
Lankshear ended the international break with another 21-minute spell off the bench against Ireland.