A former England international and Premier League star is reportedly 'in talks' with television producers over the prospect of coming out in a new tv documentary about gay professional footballers.
He is reportedly planning to shed light on his sexuality for the first time in a programme that is likely to be aired on Channel 4. High ranking members of the network have already held a series of meetings with the player alongside separate talks with agents and other players - both ones still playing and ones who have long hung up their boots.
The news comes just days after Blackpool star Jake Daniels bravely became the first active player to come out as gay in the English top-flight in more than 30 years - the last being the late Justin Fashanu. An insider told The Sun : "This documentary is going to be big and is the talk of the game at the moment.
"But after Jake made his announcement, it has just got bigger and made the topic even more relevant. They have been in talks with a secretly gay player and are confident he will participate and come out on the show.
"The overwhelmingly positive reaction to Jake’s announcement has made him all the more confident. He realises Jake has been incredibly brave and feels he could also be a role-model who breaks down barriers if he does the same thing."
Channel 4 are yet to issue any comment on the planned programme. Meanwhile, the loving response to Daniels' recent announcement has continued. The teenager explained to Sky Sports how he hopes his decision to go public with his sexuality will encourage other players to do the same.
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"Now is the right time to do it. I feel like I am ready to tell people my story. I want people to know the real me," Daniels added. "I have been thinking for a long time about how I want to do it, when I want to do it. I know now is the time. I am ready to be myself, be free and be confident with it all."
On Friday, Daniels was snapped wearing a t-shirt with a powerful message written on the front. The clothing read: "Together we can end the stigma and move football forwards." Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville called Daniels' announcement "a moment of great importance".
The former Manchester United star went on: "What he has just done tonight takes incredible courage - we have both been in dressing rooms for many many years and that would seem unthinkable to announce that you are gay and I can't imagine how difficult it has been really."
