Jermaine Jenas set to replace Gary Lineker as BBC Match of the Day host and could take over ‘within two years’
JERMAINE JENAS is set to replace Gary Lineker as the BBC’s host of Match of the Day and their main football coverage, according to reports.
It is thought the organisation see the former midfielder as Lineker's natural replacement when the current presenter does move on.
According to the , no time frame has been set but sources suggest it could be within two years.
Lineker, 59, is the BBC's top-paid star with a £1.75million salary - although he did volunteer to take a pay cut to help balance the gender gap.
He is still wanted by the BBC and is not being pushed out, but his number of other jobs have led to talks at the top level in the corporation about his role as the face of football.
Lineker is expected to agree a million-pound deal with ITV to host a Sunday night quiz show, with a working title of Going For A Fortune.
The report states that Jenas, 36, is currently earning £210,000 per year from the Beeb but that would treble should he take on the new role.
He currently works as a pundit with the BBC and BT Sport while his media work also involves co-presenting the BBC 5 Live Friday Football Social with Darren Fletcher, occasionally co-hosting the 606 phone-in and presenting MOTDx, aimed at a younger audience.
Jenas also did a BBC documentary investigating knife crime in Nottingham, his home city.
And the way he continues to impress the BBC bosses with his work means he has reportedly moved ahead of Gabby Logan and others to be next in line to Lineker, who replaced the legendary Des Lynam in 1999.
Speaking of Jenas potentially being his successor, Lineker said in 2019: "He would be good. Lynam was fabulously laid-back and smart.
"Des always used to say, ‘If you think of things that might be funny, go for it. Some people will like it, some won’t.’
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"I realise how lucky I’ve been. I’ve been given some kind of talent to play football and made the most of life since. I’ve been immensely fortunate."
Jenas came through at Nottingham Forest before joining Newcastle and then Tottenham before retiring aged 32 at QPR due to injury in 2014, launching his media career during his recovery.
He made 21 appearances for England with his solo goal coming in a 2-1 friendly win over Switzerland in February 2008.
