After it was sensationally announced that Gary Lineker would be leaving BBC’s Match of the Day after 25 years, rival networks were no doubt drawing up attractive offers for the presenter.

And it appears ITV is already angling to poach the 63-year-old after the I’m A Celebrity hosts, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, called for him to join the reality show next year.

On Tuesday, during an Instagram live video Ant, 49, said to viewers: ‘We’ve got to go now, oh no wait, there’s one more suggestion it says, ”Get Gary Lineker in [the Jungle] for next year”.’

In response to the suggestion, Ant said: ‘Now that’s a good idea. Great suggestion, now that he’s left match of the day, let’s get him in.’

Typically, the Geordie duo dismiss calls from fans for high calibre names such as Lineker to go in the I’m A Celebrity jungle saying they are too busy or famous to appear on the reality show.

But in a rare uptake, the hosts agreed with the suggestion of Lineker joining the ITV flagship show and even pushed for it.

It appears that ITV is already angling to poach Gary Linekerafter the I’m A Celebrity hosts, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly , called for him to join the reality show next year

With his business partner at Goal Hanger – the company behind the hugely successful podcast franchise, The Rest Is – as the former Head of Sport at ITV, Tony Pastor, conversations have no doubt been bubbling for some time about Lineker joining ITV.

It comes after the former England striker’s agent, John Holmes, insisted ITV had been keen to recruit Lineker ‘years ago’ but were knocked back by the presenter.

Holmes’s rebuke came amid reports this summer Lineker was plotting to join ITV and take a prominent position in its sports coverage.

But now the question of Lineker jumping ship has resurfaced since fans have called for him to appear on I’m A Celebrity, an idea which has been reinforced by the show’s longtime hosts.

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Ant and Dec’s influence on the line-up should not be underestimated as the TikTok star, GK Barry, who is a contestant this year thanked the pair for helping her land a spot on the show.

GK Barry, whose real name is Grace Keeling, is now in the Jungle and reportedly has an ITV show lined up for her when she leaves.

It is well known that I’m A Celebrity is a gateway for celebrities to work more with ITV and bringing Lineker on board would help him transition into a more permanent role on the network.

After weeks of speculation that Lineker would be leaving MOTD, it was confirmed last week the former striker will step down at the end of the season.

After weeks of speculation that Lineker would be leaving Match Of The Day, it was confirmed last week the former striker will step down at the end of the season 

Lineker, who is paid £1.35million a year by the BBC, will host its coverage of the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the US, as well as next season’s FA Cup.

It was also reported he has already left the presenting line-up for the BBC Sports Personality of The Year awards ceremony in December.

According to a poll carried out by market research company Ipsos this week, fans would like to see recurring Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer take the reins on the show.

Mark Chapman, who hosts the highlights show’s sister programme Match of the Day 2, was a close second-favourite to succeed Lineker among fans, with 20 per cent.

Alex Kay-Jelski, the BBC’s director of sport, is believed to be keen on taking the show down a different direction and hopes a new presenter can attract a younger audience to the programme.