Southampton likely to lose a key target to a familiar Championship rival.

Southampton appear set to suffer a significant setback in the transfer market, with one of their priority summer targets now expected to join a Championship rival instead of making the move to St Mary’s.

The Saints have enjoyed a productive transfer window so far and have generally managed to get their own way when pursuing key targets. That success has helped create optimism around the club ahead of the new Championship campaign, particularly after securing the return of players who played important roles during last season’s promotion push.

Oxford United v Sheffield Wednesday – Sky Bet Championship | Leila Coker/GettyImages

Among the biggest positives has been the permanent arrival of Cyle Larin, whose performances during the closing stages of last season convinced Southampton that he should remain part of their long-term plans. Goalkeeper Daniel Peretz has also returned, providing another familiar face who impressed during the club’s successful run toward promotion.

Both signings have strengthened the feeling that Southampton are in a strong position heading into the new campaign. Retaining important members of the squad while adding further quality has reinforced expectations that the club will once again challenge near the top of the Championship table.

Another major talking point throughout the summer has been the future of midfielder Shea Charles. Leeds United continue to be linked with a move for the talented youngster, but negotiations have dragged on without any breakthrough.

Because of the lack of progress, Southampton still have Charles available, and there remains every possibility that he could continue playing under head coach Tonda Eckert if a transfer is not completed before the opening weeks of the season.

Having Charles remain at St Mary’s would represent another boost for the club, even if only temporarily, as Southampton continue preparing for another demanding Championship campaign.

Despite those encouraging developments, however, not everything has gone according to plan in the transfer market.

One of Southampton’s leading attacking targets now appears increasingly likely to sign elsewhere, with fresh reports indicating the club are on the verge of missing out on highly rated Tottenham Hotspur striker Will Lankshear.

The Saints are eager to strengthen their options in attack following several changes within the squad this summer.

Ross Stewart’s departure has reduced the number of senior centre-forwards available to Eckert, leaving Southampton in need of another proven striker capable of leading the line throughout the long Championship season.

The situation has become even more uncertain because Cameron Archer has also been linked with a potential move away from the club.

West Bromwich Albion are among the clubs reportedly interested in Archer, meaning Southampton could soon find themselves even shorter of attacking options if another departure materialises.

As a result, signing another centre-forward has become one of the club’s biggest priorities before the transfer window closes.

Lankshear emerged as one of Southampton’s preferred solutions to that problem after attracting widespread attention with his impressive performances last season.

The Tottenham academy graduate enjoyed an encouraging loan spell with Oxford United, where he demonstrated his goalscoring ability by finding the net 11 times in Championship competition.

His combination of movement, finishing and potential made him an attractive option for several clubs seeking additional firepower.

Southampton had been strongly linked with the 21-year-old and were believed to be monitoring his situation closely.

However, developments over recent days suggest the striker is now heading in a different direction.

According to Football.London journalist Alasdair Gold, Middlesbrough have moved into advanced negotiations with Tottenham over a permanent transfer for the young forward.

Rather than joining Southampton, Lankshear now appears increasingly likely to continue his Championship career at the Riverside Stadium.

The reports have since gathered further momentum after Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas revealed that the striker is expected to undergo a medical with Middlesbrough in the near future.

If completed, the move would represent a major disappointment for Southampton, who had identified Lankshear as one of the players capable of solving their attacking shortage.

Instead, Middlesbrough appear to have acted decisively and stolen a march on one of their Championship rivals by moving quickly to secure the striker’s signature.

For Southampton, the setback is particularly frustrating because Lankshear fits the profile of player they were hoping to recruit.

His performances at Oxford United suggested he is capable of scoring consistently at Championship level despite his relatively young age.

Having already reached double figures for league goals, he has shown the qualities required to become a reliable attacking presence for a promotion-chasing side.

Missing out on such a promising striker is therefore disappointing enough on its own.

What makes the situation even more painful from Southampton’s perspective is the identity of the club expected to complete the deal.

Rather than joining a side outside the Championship, Lankshear looks set to strengthen one of Southampton’s direct rivals for promotion.

Middlesbrough are expected to challenge near the top of the table once again next season, making the striker’s decision even harder for Saints supporters to accept.

The rivalry between the two clubs has also intensified significantly over the past year following the controversy surrounding the so-called “Spygate” incident.

Relations between Southampton and Middlesbrough deteriorated after allegations regarding access to training information before last season’s play-off fixtures.

The controversy eventually led to Southampton being removed from the play-offs, creating considerable tension between the clubs and their supporters.

Although Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg has since attempted to reduce the hostility by downplaying the disagreement, the relationship between the two clubs remains strained.

As a result, meetings between Southampton and Middlesbrough next season are already expected to carry added significance beyond the usual battle for Championship points.

Lankshear’s anticipated move only adds another layer of intrigue to those encounters.

From Middlesbrough’s perspective, convincing one of Southampton’s primary transfer targets to choose the Riverside instead of St Mary’s represents another significant victory.

Supporters on Teesside will undoubtedly welcome both the quality of the player and the fact that he rejected one of their promotion rivals.

Should Lankshear fulfil his potential, Middlesbrough could possess one of the division’s most exciting young strikers.

Goals from the former Tottenham prospect may ultimately help Boro strengthen their own promotion ambitions while simultaneously denying Southampton the chance to secure an immediate return to the Premier League.

Even so, Southampton cannot afford to dwell on this disappointment for too long.

With plenty of time remaining in the transfer window, the club are expected to continue exploring alternative attacking options capable of strengthening the squad before the season begins.

Recruitment staff will almost certainly have drawn up contingency plans should their pursuit of Lankshear fail.

One possible alternative could be Real Zaragoza striker Ivan Azon, who has also been linked with Southampton during the summer.

The Spanish forward may now become a more realistic option if Lankshear’s transfer to Middlesbrough is finalised in the coming days.

Regardless of who eventually arrives, Southampton know they must strengthen their attack if they are to compete successfully for promotion once again.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough look poised to secure one of the Championship’s brightest young forwards, setting the stage for another fascinating chapter in an increasingly fierce rivalry between the two clubs as they prepare to battle throughout the upcoming season.