Former England captain Wayne Rooney has emerged as the most sought-after name in football punditry, with four major broadcasters battling to secure his services.
Amazon, Sky Sports, Match of the Day and TNT Sports are all vying to sign the Manchester United icon following his departure from his managerial role at Plymouth.
The broadcasters have been flooding Rooney with offers as they compete to add one of English football’s all-time greats to their roster.
Amazon has emerged as a frontrunner in the race, with discussions already underway to bring Rooney on board for their Champions League coverage.
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The streaming giant is particularly keen to have the former striker as a pitch-side pundit for the upcoming Manchester City versus Real Madrid clash, one of the standout fixtures of the knockout phase.
The broadcaster, which holds rights to Tuesday night Champions League matches, is also exploring a longer-term role for Rooney as part of their football coverage.
Amazon already boasts an impressive lineup of pundits, including Daniel Sturridge and Alan Shearer, with Gabby Logan handling presenting duties.
The addition of Rooney would be considered a significant coup for the streaming service, who are hoping to have him analysing from the sidelines during the City-Real Madrid fixture.
While no formal agreement has been reached yet, discussions are ongoing about making the 39-year-old a regular fixture among Amazon’s established team of experts.
Rooney brings significant experience to the punditry role, having previously impressed during stints with both Sky and TNT Sports.
The former striker’s credentials include winning the Champions League with Manchester United in 2009, alongside five Premier League titles during his time at Old Trafford.
His outspoken nature as a player has translated well to punditry, with his most recent appearance coming on Sky Sports’ Overlap show last week, where he offered strong views.
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Match of the Day is looking to refresh its format, with plans to incorporate Rooney into their new-look show for next season as part of a wider variety of guests.
Sky Sports has also expressed strong interest in the pundit, having already featured him on their programming.
TNT Sports previously utilised Rooney’s expertise last season, particularly drawing on his unique perspective as a former player for both clubs during a match broadcast.