Gary Lineker agreed to take a £500,000 pay cut in order to stay with the BBC and sign a new contract, according to reports.
News broke on Monday night that the former footballer would be leaving the broadcaster in 2026, once the World Cup that year is out of the way.
It was then confirmed on Tuesday that Lineker had signed a short-term contract extension with the BBC and that he’ll be leaving Match of the Day at the end of the season.
The 63-year-old, who has presented the popular football highlights show ever since 1999, will spearhead the Beeb’s coverage of the next World Cup and next season’s FA Cup as well.
Lineker was paid £1.3million by the BBC before signing a new deal.
According to The Sun, however, he’s now agreed to a £500,000 pay cut – which means he’ll take home roughly £800,000 instead.
That means that Lineker, it seems, is no longer the BBC’s best-paid presenter.
That honour now belongs to Zoe Ball, with the 53-year-old paid between £950,000-£954,999.
When it comes to potential replacements for Lineker on Match of the Day, several names are in the frame.
Mark Chapman is the favourite to take over, though it’s been claimed the host of MOTD 2 is reluctant to share the job with a female host.
Kelly Somers has emerged as a candidate as well, with the BBC impressed by the work the 33-year-old has done for the corporation so far.
And Alex Scott and Gabby Logan have been linked with the post as well, having been at the BBC since 2019 and 2007 respectively.
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Lineker’s impending exit from the BBC will leave the broadcaster with some big shoes that need filling.
The former England, Tottenham, Leicester and Barcelona star is, however, expected to still rake in the millions from his Rest is Football podcast.
Lineker’s departure from the BBC comes amid a desire from the corporation to revamp Match of the Day.
They know it is getting increasingly hard to maintain the programme’s viewership, especially given how highlights from Premier League matches are uploaded to YouTube within minutes of the final whistle.
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BBC director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski is believed to have been frustrated by Lineker’s outspokenness, too.
Meanwhile, Danny Murphy believes Chapman is the right choice to replace Lineker.
“I feel that they’ve got [a candidate],” the former Liverpool told talkSPORT.
“Mark Chapman, who I work with a lot on Sundays.
“I think he’s a brilliant presenter and very, very knowledgeable on sport and football. Somebody who is ready-made for it.
“Whether he wants it or not, I don’t know. That’s a different question, you’d have to ask him.
“But he would be the glaring, obvious choice for me.”