Gary Lineker wanted by BT Sport to present their Premier League coverage next season following the presenter’s controversial MOTD axion… with only a big BBC climb likely to see him return
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Gary Lineker is being sought by BT Sport to become the face of their rebranded football coverage next season, with the Match of the Day presenter set to be inundated with offers by the BBC following his suspension.
The former England captain’s future with the company is at stake with sources close to the presenter saying a major climb from the BBC will be required to return to MOTD.
BT Sport will relaunch as TNT Sports this summer after being acquired by Warner Brothers.
The 62-year-old hosted BT Sports Champions League coverage for six years until 2021 and lives close to the new studios they are moving into in west London.
TNT Sports has two seasons of live Premier League rights and four more years of Champions League matches when they start later this year, and is also in the market to buy EFL rights.
Gary Lineker was suspended from BBC’s coverage of Match of the Day, with the presenter smiling alongside his son as he watched his lifelong team Leicester take on Chelsea on Saturday
Lineker was previously part of BT Sport for their coverage of the UEFA Champions League
Math of the Day is in ‘crisis’ with no presenters, pundits or commentators for the first time in its history after the company’s decision to take Gary Lineker off the air sparked mass strikes
A regular schedule of one Premier League game at the weekend and the occasional Champions League midweek might appeal to Lineker, as it would not be significantly tougher than his current schedule.
The BBC’s surprise decision to suspend Lineker on Friday afternoon has had a devastating impact on their sports programming on television and radio this weekend, after fellow presenters, pundits and commentators refused to join in an act of solidarity.
As well as scrapping today’s Football Focus, Final Score and radio commentary, Sunday’s MOTD2 and live coverage of the Women’s Super League clash between Chelsea and Manchester United are also in doubt.
Ian Wright (centre) and Alan Shearer (right) both confirmed they will not appear on Match of the Day after Lineker was temporarily dropped from the BBC’s popular football program
Presenter Alex Scott (above) quit her role on Football Focus in solidarity with Lineker, leading the BBC to cancel the program as Kelly Sommers also joined the boycott
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