Gary Lineker lined up to present BT Sport’s £897m Champions League coverage
Forget David De Gea to Real Madrid, the signing of the summer is set to be Gary Lineker to BT Sport.
Read more: BT to reveal subscription prices for European Champions League coverage
Lineker, the face of the BBC's football coverage for 20 years, could front BT Sport's Champions League coverage from next season onwards.
According to reports, BT Sport will turn to the former England striker to present the Champions League coverage it paid a massive £897m for in 2013.
Lineker, on a current salary of roughly £2m, is believed to have agreed to a pay cut in his latest contract with the BBC that – crucially – will also come with a non-exclusivity agreement freeing him to join BT alongside his Match of the Day work.
The presenter has previously worked for Qatari Al Jazeera and American NBC as broadcasting in foreign territories did not breach his BBC deal.
BT Sport will reveal next week how much it will charge football fans for its Champions League package – potentially building a new channel costing an additional £5 per month on top of the £13.50 a month it currently charges for BT Sport 1&2.
Chief executive Gavin Patterson promised that "European football will be far more accessible and affordable with BT" after beating Sky to the broadcasting rights.
A BT Spokesperson said: "BT doesn’t comment on rumour and speculation." The BBC and Gary Lineker's agent did not respond when contacted by Morning Wire