Gary Lineker is in talks with bosses at the BBC to take home a £1million-a-year salary after the broadcaster sacked his ‘natural successor’ Jermaine Jenas.
The new salary for the veteran presenter would represent a £350,000 cut to his current pay cheque.
It has been reported that Lineker will meet with executives at the BBC in October to discuss plans for the presenter to continue fronting Match Of the Day for at least two or three more years.
Lineker has presented Match of the Day since 1999, with his current contract set to expire at the end of the current season.
Fellow football pundit Jermaine Jenas was the bookies’ favourite to take over from Lineker.
However, Jenas was fired from the corporation after it was revealed he had sent inappropriate texts to female colleagues, meaning Lineker has been left without a so-called ‘natural successor’ to take over.
A source told The Sun: ‘Gary is hugely popular with both fans and players alike. The sense is that, with so much uncertainty and scandal at the BBC, right now viewers are crying out for a safe pair of hands.
‘Gary adores the BBC, and loves his job, and recognises what an honour it is to host television’s flagship football show, as well as international games.
‘Gary has long maintained that the BBC provides excellent value for money – and has quite literally put his money where his mouth is, and offered to take a substantial pay cut.’
Mark Chapman is now the frontrunner to replace Lineker as the new presenter of the iconic programme.
Chapman has landed the role of lead presenter for BBC’s new Champions League highlights show, with the 50-year-old set to start his new role next week.
The BBC secured the rights in a three-year deal with UEFA that will return the Champions League to terrestrial channels.
Chapman currently hosts Match of the Day 2 and has done since 2013.
He has worked on various other programmes including Final Score and The NFL Show since joining the BBC in 1996.
has approached Gary Lineker for a comment. The BBC declined to comment.