Five Things Tottenham Must do This Season to Avoid Will Lankshear Mistake With Luca Williams-Barnett
Tottenham won their third Premier League game on the bounce for the first time in 616 days against Crystal Palace on Saturday, but one player completely stole the show in just five minutes – Luca Williams-Barnett. Now Spurs must do everything in their power to both keep him at the club and pave the way for his development.
Williams-Barnett was finally given the nod for his Premier League debut in the 87th minute against Palace, when Spurs were already two goals to the good. Despite being handed nothing more than a glorified cameo, the Hotspur Way youth product still managed to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and make instant headlines.
If only Mohammed Kudus had steered the ball into the empty net after Williams-Barnett’s mazy run! But even without an assist on debut, the Spurs starlet has still garnered praise from Roberto De Zerbi, Steven Gerrard, and Jamie Redknapp.
Gerrard said: “This young kid is going to be a player. I’ve seen enough in the 10-minute cameo. He came on around the 80th minute; he went on this little jinky run down the left and put a ball across like Declan Rice. I just thought, ‘They’ve got their own little Rio Ngumoha’. So look out for this boy, I really like him.”
Jamie Redknapp said: “This is a player, mark my words; this is a player. He is sensational.”
Roberto De Zerbi said: “I thought it was the right moment for him. Because it is his first game in the Premier League. But his qualities, he is a big, big talent. He is a very, very great talent. Very young, but a great talent.”
But what do Tottenham have to do to make sure they don’t let Luca Williams-Barnett slip through their fingers, just like Will Lankshear, Troy Parrott, Luka Vuskovic, and Noni Madueke?
- 2024/25: Williams-Barnett registered 19 goals and 9 assists in 20 U18 games
- 2025/26: Williams-Barnett managed six goals and five assists in 10 Premier League games, as well as seven goals and two assists in the UEFA Youth League
- 2026/27: Williams-Barnett makes his Premier League debut for Tottenham
Tie Luca Williams-Barnett Down to a New Tottenham Contract
The first step is simple. Luca Williams-Barnett signed his first professional contract as soon as he turned 17 in October 2025, but that only runs until 2028. Tottenham need to make sure they hold all the cards and do not risk their academy gem having his head turned by a bigger fish.
The Lilywhites should get a new five-year deal with lots of financial incentives on the table as soon as possible, or they may just live to regret it. Talents like Luca Williams-Barnett only come along once in a blue moon, and you have to hold onto them for dear life.
Give Williams-Barnett More Minutes Sooner Rather Than Later
If that’s what Williams-Barnett can do with a five-minute cameo, what could he produce if De Zerbi handed him a full debut? Of course, there is the risk of handing a young player too much responsibility too soon, but you sense De Zerbi will not fall into that trap.
The plan for Spurs over the next 10 games should be to give Williams-Barnett regular 10–30-minute run-outs in the second half of games, especially since the Lilywhites are far from strong on the left side of attack. Giving the youngster some valuable game time is not only an investment for the future, but he also looks more than capable of coming up with some late goals and assists.
Spurs Must Find a Sensible Loan Move in January
The second half of the season could be a different story for Tottenham. If Spurs can get the likes of Xavi Simons, Mykhailo Mudryk, and Wilson Odobert back, while also building Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison’s fitness levels, there may simply not be room for Williams-Barnett in the matchday squad.
Rather than sending him back to the U21s, Spurs should find a six-month loan spell for the 18-year-old. The level doesn’t matter too much; it’s more about getting him regular minutes. Tottenham have a good relationship with Westerlo over in Belgium, so that could be a good option.
Open up a Pathway for Mikey Moore and Luca Williams-Barnett
Noni Madueke is the perfect example of what not to do at Tottenham Hotspur. Back in 2018, when the youngster sensed there was not a clear pathway for him into the Spurs first team, he rejected a new deal in N17 and made the brave decision to join PSV Eindhoven instead.
Of course, the Dutch side couldn’t offer him the fame and fortunes of a Premier League outfit, but they could offer him something more valuable – regular playing time. Five years later, he returned to London with Chelsea and then won a Premier League title with Arsenal in 2026.
If Tottenham don’t prove to Williams-Barnett and Mikey Moore that a pathway exists under Roberto De Zerbi, they could well make the same decision as Madueke. If that means having to sell some more senior attackers to make room for the two academy graduates, then so be it.
Tottenham Should Make Williams-Barnett a Promise and Stick to it
Sometimes, it really is as simple as having a sit-down meeting with the manager. If Roberto De Zerbi can look Williams-Barnett in the eye and promise him that he will get chances in North London, it could go a long way to deciding his future. Give him a proper senior squad number. Hand him his full debut in the FA Cup third round. Make him feel like a valued member of the squad. It’s about time Tottenham put some real faith in their academy system. After all, you don’t find the next Harry Kane without giving chances to raw, unproven talents.
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