FootyChatter.com

By MICHAEL PAVITT Published: 06: 26 AEDT, 6 December 2024 | Updated: 06: 27 AEDT, 6 December 2024 9 View comments Gary Lineker has offered three contenders who could potentially succeed Harry Kane as England captain in the future. Kane was officially named as the Three Lions skipper ahead of the 2018 World Cup, with then England boss Gareth Southgate selecting the forward over Jordan Henderson. He captained England to the World Cup semi-finals in Russia, before leading the nation at three further major tournaments. This included back-to-back European Championship finals, where England agonisingly finished as runners-up, along with a quarter-final exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The Bayern Munich forward looks likely to retain the captaincy under his former boss Thomas Tuchel, but thoughts have turned to the 31-year-old's possible successor.   Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, Lineker and co-hosts Alan Shearer and Micah Richards offered their thoughts on which England star is best placed to follow Kane. Harry Kane has had the England captain's armband at the last four major tournaments Kane is expected to retain the armband under his former Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel Gary Lineker has suggested possible contenders for who could eventually succeed Kane 'Jude Bellingham or Declan Rice, I would go with Bellingham, I think he’s the natural one, ' Lineker said. Ex-England boss Southgate had named Bellingham and Rice as part of England's leadership group ahead of Euro 2024. The duo joined Kane and vice-captain Kyle Walker in the group at the tournament in Germany. With Walker now 34, Bellingham and Rice would likely be leading contenders for the captaincy in the future. Bellingham has yet to lead England out for a match, but Rice was named captain on his 50th appearance back in March against Belgium. Former England defender Richards added three further names to the mix. 'You are thinking, are you for the leader type in Bellingham, where nothing seems to faze him, ' Richards said. 'He has got that little bit of arrogance. 'Do you go for a defender, someone like John Stones who has done it, do you go with Pickford who is sort of a leader at the back, even though he is a bit bonkers at times. Lineker suggested Jude Bellingham would be the 'natural choice' to succeed Kane as captain Declan Rice captained England on his 50th appearance for the Three Lions back in March Micah Richards suggested Arsenal star Bukayo Saka should be a contender for the armband 'I'd go [Bukayo] Saka, just because of his mental strength and he is a top player as well. ' Lineker agreed with Richards' assessment that Arsenal star Saka would be a contender to be named captain. The outgoing Match of the Day presenter highlighted that Saka is among the players always likely to start for the Three Lions, but suggested Bellingham has the edge. 'I was just about to mention Saka, he’s a possibility, ' Lineker said. 'Resilience, brilliant football, he’s always going to play even with all this talent England have got.   'It’s not a bad shout but I would go for Jude, I would go for Bellingham. ' Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group