GARY LINECKER deliberate to depart the BBC and be a part of its greatest rival – however he later found ITV weren’t , it’s understood.
The Each day Mail has been informed that representatives for the Match Of The Day presenter have contacted ITV over the previous 18 months.
Sources have indicated that the talks have been geared toward discovering out in the event that they wished the previous England participant as a sports activities anchor as his present cope with the company is about to run out subsequent summer time.
It’s clear from the strategy to ITV that Lineker is able to half firm and go away the BBC, the place he’s the best earner on £1.35million a 12 months and has been a mainstay of the Premier League's main fixtures since 1999.
His agent, John Holmes, has dismissed the claims as 'nonsense' and insisted that ITV have been in reality eager to recruit Lineker 'years in the past' however have been turned down by the presenter.
Gary Lineker introduced protection of the 2024 European Championships for the BBC earlier this month
Lineker, well-known for his look in Walkers adverts, is alleged to have deliberate to depart the BBC and transfer to ITV.
Gary Lineker's agent has dismissed claims that Lineker tried to maneuver to ITV – calling it 'nonsense'
Gary Lineker has additionally carried out different presenting work for ITV other than sports activities – internet hosting the quiz present Sitting on a Fortune earlier than it was axed
Lineker has introduced Match of the Day for the BBC since 1999, in addition to different main soccer protection.
Gary Lineker's contract with the BBC is about to run out subsequent summer time – the presenter is alleged to be exploring his choices
When requested about claims he had initiated separate discussions over the previous 18 months, Mr Holmes referred to Lineker’s ITV work outdoors of the game in that timeframe, which included internet hosting recreation present Sitting on a Fortune between 2021 and July 2023, when it was scrapped.
However the Each day Mail has discovered the circumstances usually are not linked and the try was geared toward gaining a outstanding place in ITV's sports activities protection.
The revelation comes throughout a tumultuous interval for the 63-year-old Lineker.
Final 12 months the BBC suspended him for 3 days after he posted on social media that the Conservative authorities's language concerning asylum coverage was 'no completely different to the language utilized by Germany within the 30s'.
On the top of the impartiality controversy, a number of of Lineker's colleagues, together with Alan Shearer and Ian Wright, withdrew from Match of the Day broadcasts in solidarity.
Extra lately, BBC workers throughout Euro 2024 in Germany have been reportedly sad with Lineker's outspoken criticism of the England workforce on the match on his podcast, The Relaxation is Soccer.
Lineker has insisted his broadly publicised use of the phrase 's***' was in reference to the standard of the group stage recreation in opposition to Denmark, and never immediately geared toward supervisor Gareth Southgate and his squad.
Following Lineker's feedback, captain Harry Kane hit out at pundits and commentators over their assessments, saying: 'I’d by no means need to be disrespectful to any participant, particularly one who has worn the jersey and is aware of what it's wish to play for England.
'However former gamers who’ve now develop into pundits have to know that it's very onerous to not hear it anymore, particularly for gamers who usually are not used to it or for some gamers who’re new to this setting.
'I all the time really feel like there's a duty on him – I do know he must be sincere and provides his opinion, however he additionally has a duty as a former England participant.
'The actual fact of the matter is we haven't received something as a nation for a really very long time and numerous these gamers have been part of that they usually understand how powerful it’s.'
ITV declined to remark.
