Gary Lineker had reportedly “plotted” a move from BBC to ITV but the rivals weren’t interested in hiring the Match of the Day host.
According to the Daily Mail, Lineker allegedly approached ITV to gauge their interest in having him as a sports anchor.
The former England footballer has been a significant presence on BBC since 1999 and has risen the ranks to become the highest-paid presenter with an annual salary of £1.35 million.
However, his contract with the broadcasting giant is set to expire next summer, which might have led him to explore new opportunities.
Nonetheless, Jon Holmes, Lineker’s agent, dismissed the rumours as “rubbish,” stating that ITV had expressed interest in Lineker “years ago,” but the presenter declined their offers.
He further emphasised that Lineker’s discussions with ITV were limited to previous engagements, such as hosting the game show Sitting on a Fortune from 2021 until its cancellation in July 2023.
However, the report mentions that the negotiations were specifically aimed at a prominent position in ITV’s sports coverage, independent of Lineker’s past ITV engagements.
Despite the swirling rumours, ITV has refrained from commenting on the matter.
Their silence leaves much to speculation about the potential for Lineker to join their ranks and what that could mean for both his career and ITV’s sports programming.
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As Lineker’s contract with the BBC nears its end in 2025, a potential move to ITV remains a possibility.
However, his departure from the BBC, where he has been a fixture for decades, would be a notable change, not only for him but also for the millions of viewers who associate him with Match of the Day’s iconic coverage.
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