Letโs face it, Karl Stefanovic hasnโt had the best run of late.
Between Uber-gate and his co-host Lisa Wilkinson leaving the show over a pay dispute, itโs long been expected Karl wonโt be at the Today show desk by yearโs end.
According to a new report by The Daily Telegraph, behind-the-scenes the network have set their sights on Channel Nineโs Adelaide newsreader Brenton Ragless to replace Karl.
Insiders say the 41-year-old is โabsolutely delightfulโ and would be the perfect fit for the coveted gig.
Those who have worked with Ragless tell the publication he is โfunnyโ, โwarmโ, โengagingโ and โdecentโ and โnot just a Stefanovic clone.โ
Adding that the television presenter would be โexcellent value for money.โ
Meanwhile other names in the running include Ninja Warrior host and Karlโs long-running fill-in Ben Fordham and Channel Seven newsreader Michael Usher.
Last month, Womanโs Day revealed Ben was being groomed to take over from Karl by next year.
โ(Nine management) plan to wheel Karl out as much as possible for 60 Minutes assignments, which will justify his absence from Today.โ
โBen Fordham will fill in while heโs gone, prepping him to take over in January 2019.โ
With a diverse path that eventually led to presenting, including bus driving, PR and radio, Ragless is being labelled as the networkโs new โAussie every manโ, the Telegraph report.
In March, Karlโs future with Nine was put under intense pressure after a local outlet published details of a private conversation he had with his brother Peter Stefanovic.
The driver claimed Karl complained to Peter about his new Today co-host Georgie Gardner, saying she needs to โstep upโ if she โwanted to stay on the show.โ
The Nine star also apparently vented that Georgie โdidnโt have enough opinionsโ and accused her of โsitting on the fence.โ
The 43-year-old also said the Nine bosses were โout of touchโ and โdidnโt know anything.โ
Want more juicy Aussie gossip? Listen to the latest episode of the Womanโs Day Uncensored podcast