Lineker instructed Esquire journal in an interview printed earlier this month that he accepted he’ll “should decelerate in some unspecified time in the future”.
Dyke additionally stated the BBC is “in difficulties financially”, referring to current job cuts being made as a part of wider BBC efforts to avoid wasting £700m a yr, including that dropping Lineker “can be a saving on a sports activities funds, which you possibly can use elsewhere”.
Lineker is among the company’s best-known presenters and its highest-paid star, of these whose salaries are declared, incomes greater than £1.3m a yr.
He has additionally offered protection of main tournaments like World Cups and European Championships for the BBC, in addition to BBC Sports activities Character of the Yr ceremonies.
Lineker has labored for different sports activities networks throughout his time on the BBC, together with US community NBC and BT Sport (now TNT Sport). He has additionally branched out into podcasts, co-founding manufacturing firm Goalhanger, which makes well-liked exhibits together with The Relaxation is Historical past, The Relaxation is Politics and The Relaxation is Leisure.
Alastair Campbell, who co-presents The Relaxation Is Politics podcast, stated Lineker can be “a really arduous act to observe”, Sky Information reported.
“He is a superb broadcaster and an excellent man,” Campbell stated.
Lineker’s new contract has now been agreed and he’ll go away on a excessive on the greatest event in world soccer. However changing a star presenter on a excessive profile present is all the time a danger.
Lineker was briefly suspended by bosses final yr after an outcry over his social media put up concerning the UK’s asylum coverage.
The incident led to a evaluate of BBC social media pointers, which concluded that high-profile presenters must be allowed to precise views on points and insurance policies however cease in need of political campaigning.
Lineker described the brand new guidelines on the time as “all very smart”.
Earlier than changing into a TV presenter, Lineker had a massively profitable profession as a striker for England in addition to Leicester, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona.
Extra reporting by Mallory Moench, Katie Razzall and Steven McIntosh.
