Gary Lineker has signed a new five-year deal with the BBC but is also expected to become a presenter on rival BT Sport.
The contract with the corporation, that will keep him as its face of football until 2020, is non-exclusive, and the former footballer is thought to be near to announcing that he will also front BT Sport’s live Champions League coverage next season.
Under his new deal, Lineker will continue to present the same shows for the corporation: Match of the Day, the BBC’s live FA Cup coverage and other live football matches, as well as Sports Personality of the Year.
However, it is understood that after BT won the rights to Champions League and the Europa League from ITV and Sky in an £897million deal, it has been looking for a household name to host them.
Lineker’s previous deal with the corporation was not exclusive, according to sources, and he has worked for Al-Jazeera Sports, alongside Ruud Gullit, Alan Shearer and Terry Venables.
However, BT Sport is a higher-profile UK rival.
There has been speculation that Lineker could make up for being paid less by the BBC by taking on the BT Sport role.
Lineker, who began presenting Match of the Day in 1999, said: “I’m thrilled that my relationship with the BBC has been renewed and that I will continue to present Match of the Day, FA Cup, major football tournaments and Sports Personality of the Year. I’m already looking forward to getting the 2015-16 season underway.”
The BBC’s head of TV sport, Philip Bernie, said: “We are delighted that Gary will continue to front the country’s favourite football programme on the BBC, as well as leading our live football coverage. He is the outstanding football presenter of his generation, combining great authority from his very distinguished playing career with wonderful broadcasting instincts and sharpness – making him a true star performer.”
Earlier this year, the BBC announced it had renewed its deal to show Premier League highlights for a further three years, through to and including the 2018/19 season.
