Kelly Cates is reputedly poised to leave Sky Sports next year to host Match of the Day and become one of three replacements for Gary Lineker - alongside current BBC presenters Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman.

The corporation confirmed last month that Lineker would step down from the flagship Premier League highlights programme after 25 years at the end of this season. Chapman emerged as the early favourite after hosting Match of the Day 2 in recent years.

Logan is also a prominent presenter on the BBC, hosting Sports Personality of the Year, which Lineker also hosted until this year, as well as covering major international tournaments. Cates, meanwhile, is best known for presenting live Premier League football on Sky Sports, although she is also a regular host on BBC Radio 5 Live, where Chapman is another central figure for the corporation.

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The Daily Mail reports that Cates will depart Sky this summer, claiming her bosses there are 'deeply saddened'. The report also indicates that she will join Chapman and Logan as 'rotating' hosts of Match of the Day on Saturday and Sunday nights next season.

Alan Shearer recently dubbed the former - affectionately known as 'Chappers' - the 'logical' choice to replace long-time host Lineker, who took over presenting the show from Des Lynam in 1999.

"Chappers already does Match of the Day 2, so I guess if you're looking at it logically, he would have to have a real chance of coming over to the Saturday or doing both [shows]," Betfair ambassador Shearer told The Mirror.

"Whoever it is, they've got big shoes to fill, obviously, but yeah, the show goes on.

"Someone will come in and present it, and if it is Chappers, then he will do a great job, I'm sure." Shearer seems set to sign a new contract to continue on the show and work alongside a trio of hosts next season.