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Jermaine Jenas has jokingly told Gary Lineker he’s not yet coming for his Match of the Day presenter role ‘for now’.
Lineker, 62, has presented the BBC‘s Premier League highlights show since 1999, but after 24 years in the role, there has been rampant speculation about who his successor would be.
In an exclusive interview with MailOnline in April, 40-year-old Jenas revealed that he would jump at the chance if it was made available to him, calling it ‘a great opportunity’.
On Saturday night’s show, Jenas was a pundit alongside former Wales and Swansea City defender Ashley Williams.
Jenas asked for Lineker’s opinion regarding a potential penalty incident in Everton‘s 3-2 win over Crystal Palace, claiming ‘I always like the striker’s opinion’.
Jermaine Jenas told Gary Lineker his Match of the Day presenter role is safe ‘for now’
The pair were working alongside each other during Saturday night’s broadcast of the show
Lineker has presented the BBC’s highlights show since taking over from Des Lynam in 1999
After replying, Lineker quipped ‘You want this job?’, leaving the former Newcastle and Tottenham midfielder to reply ‘No, no, I’m alright, thanks, for now.’
The presenter looked across at Jenas and said ‘Later’, before the three grinning men in the studio moved onto the next segment of the show.
Jenas is a leading candidate for the Match of the Day job when Lineker steps away from the role, after presenting Match of the Day 2, spin-off MOTDx, and his regular appearances fronting The One Show.
Lineker has named Jenas among the potential replacements, with MOTD2 host Mark Chapman another possibility.
In April, Jenas told MailOnline: ‘I would obviously be up for it… it’s Match of the Day and it would be a great opportunity.
‘I haven’t thought that far ahead but I hosted Match of the Day 2 on Sunday night, which was the first one I’ve ever done. I loved it, it felt comfortable to me, it felt normal, and I love doing The One Show as well.
‘I feel quite blessed that I’m even in people’s minds that it’s something I could take on given how big the show actually is.
Lineker, Jenas and Ashley Williams shared a chuckle after their comments were broadcast
Jenas has hosted the Sunday show Match of the Day 2, spin-off MOTDx, and The One Show
‘Gary has got plenty of legs in him and I don’t see him going anywhere soon but when that day comes which it will do, I would like to think that I am at least thought about to fill the position. If that is the case then I would obviously jump at it.’
Lineker took over the Match of the Day job from legendary broadcaster Des Lynam in 1999, bringing the show into the 21st century, although the Premier League highlights shifted to ITV between 2001 and 2004.
Since then, the BBC has not looked back, and is set to retain the Premier League highlights until 2029 after rival broadcasters chose not to bid for the next set of rights due to advertising difficulties.
The BBC’s imminent retention of Match of the Day will also trigger contract talks with Lineker, whose existing £1.3m-a-year deal expires along with the current rights contract in 2025.
