Gary Lineker has offered a new update on his Match of the Day future after a week of intense speculation.
Reports last week suggested that the former England striker’s time in the iconic MOTD hosting chair was coming to an end after 25 years.
However, the BBC later denied that there was anything to announce with regards to Lineker, with nothing agreed as to his future and the ex-Tottenham, Everton, Barcelona and Leicester star remaining under contract until the end of next season.
Lineker poked fun at the latest rumours over his position during the latest edition of Match of the Day on Saturday night, quipping at the start of the programme: “Hello, seven games on the way and it’s my final show... before the international break.”
Lineker has now spoken further on MOTD during the latest episode of The Rest is Football podcast, confirming that talks with the BBC have just begun as he likened his situation to that of Liverpool trio Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, all of whom are out of contract at Anfield next summer with extensions yet to be agreed.
“It's been a strange few days,” Lineker said. “As you know, like Trent, like Virgil, like Mo [Salah], I am coming to the end of my contract in the summer.
“It's natural at some point that you have to have conversations and they've just started. I don't know why it all spiralled out of control, but all is OK.”
He added: "There are bigger problems in the world that's for sure."
Lineker said that he believes Match of the Day pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards are in a “similar predicament”, bringing amusing responses on the subject from his fellow Rest is Football podcasters.
“What's more concerning is that I am four to one to replace you,” joked Richards.
Shearer said: “That is a f*****g massive concern by the way.”
