GARY Lineker is in talks with the BBC over a multi-year deal for Match of the Day — after volunteering to take a pay cut.
The veteran presenter, 63, could agree to stay on for £1million a year — £350,000 less than his current salary.
Lineker, who has hosted the BBC footie highlights show since 1999, is to meet executives next month over a potential deal lasting at least two or three years.
Talks are understood to have been briefly delayed following the recent Jermaine Jenas scandal.
The shamed former Spurs star, 41, who was reportedly in the running to replace Lineker, was sacked for inappropriately texting two women on The One Show.
A source said: “Gary is hugely popular with both fans and players alike. The sense is that, with so much uncertainty and scandal at the BBC, right now viewers are crying out for a safe pair of hands.
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“Gary adores the BBC, and loves his job, and recognises what an honour it is to host television’s flagship football show, as well as international games.
“Gary has long maintained that the BBC provides excellent value for money – and has quite literally put his money where his mouth is, and offered to take a substantial pay cut.”
MotD2 host Mark Chapman, 50, has also been tipped to take over when Lineker’s contract expires at the end of the season.
Last year the former England striker was reprimanded by the BBC after a critical social media post about the Government’s asylum policy.
He was forced to miss a show but colleagues loyally refused to fill in for him, so only match highlights were shown instead.
The upcoming pay negotiations come as the BBC is under enormous pressure to reduce its wage bill.
Since 2021, it has laid off 1,800 employees and cut budgets across programmes.
BBC chiefs are also still trying to claw back £200,000 paid to disgraced newsreader Huw Edwards since his arrest last November over child sex abuse images.
BBC director-general Tim Davie said the crimes were “appalling”, adding: “We want the money back and we’ve asked for it back, and we’re waiting to hear back.”
A spokesman for Lineker declined to comment, as did the BBC.
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