Gary Lineker says BBC contract talks over Match of the Day have ‘just started’

Lineker joked about his future again on The Rest is Football with co-hosts Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.

Shearer told him: “Me and Micah have been worried about you the last few days. Can you tell us anything about your contract?

“It’s like you, [Mo] Salah, [Virgil] Van Dijk and Trent [Alexander-Arnold] are all coming to the end of your contract. What’s going on? Inform us, please.”

Lineker replied: “I think there is one significant difference – Liverpool fans really care about those three.”

He added that it had been “a strange few days”, and that his co-stars are “in a similar predicament”.

“So perhaps you’ll have the Daily Mail on your doorstep tomorrow now that they know that.”

When Richards remarked that he had been given odds of 4-1 to take over, Lineker replied: “Four to one? Blimey. I’d love to see you take over. I think you’d be brilliant in the chair.”

“No, I wouldn’t!” Richards laughed.

Shearer jokingly told the former Manchester City defender: “That is a massive concern. I’m not signing my new contract if you’re the presenter, by the way.”

Lineker has hosted Match of the Day since 1999 and is the BBC’s highest-paid star, of those whose salaries are declared, earning more than £1.3m a year.

However, the former footballer has also been involved in controversy at the corporation because of his social media activity.

He was briefly suspended by BBC bosses last year after an outcry over a post about the UK’s asylum policy.

Responding to the speculation about his future on Thursday, a BBC spokesperson said: “We have nothing to announce, and we have not agreed next steps with regard to his contract.

“He is under contract until the end of the season.”