Gary Lineker in talks to sign new deal with Match of the Day amid speculation over future
GARY Lineker is in talks to sign a new Match of the Day deal amid speculation over his future.
Yesterday reports circulated online that last night’s show could be his final appearance.
But the star, 63, is understood to be in talks with BBC executives — and sources told The Sun on Sunday it was “business as usual”.
An alleged leaked email appeared to suggest plans were being drawn up at the BBC for his departure.
It was said to have included a draft statement for release when Lineker leaves.
The Beeb has refused to call the email a fake and instead said nothing had been agreed.
The ex-England striker and the BBC have previously crossed swords over some of his comments in tweets.
But a source told us: “Talks are ongoing and it is very much a case of Keep Calm and Gary On despite all the rumours. He will be there for the rest of the season no matter what happens.”
Responding to news reports of the alleged leaked email, a BBC spokesman said: “We have nothing to announce and we have not agreed next steps with regard to his contract. He is under contract until the end of the season.”
We previously reported how Lineker had volunteered to take a pay cut as part of talks over a multi-year deal.
He could agree to stay on for £1million — £350,000 less than his current salary.
He has hosted the show since 1999 and is now its longest-serving presenter.
Ex-Spurs player Jermaine Jenas, 41, had been reportedly in the running to replace him but was sacked for inappropriately texting two women on The One Show.
Lineker was taken off air last year after his tweet compared the language used to launch a government asylum plan to “that used by Germany in the 30s”.
Pundits Ian Wright and Alan Shearer boycotted MOTD in solidarity.
In 2022, Lineker was found in breach of BBC guidelines for asking whether Tories would “hand back their donations from Russian donors”.