Channel Seven have 'secret talks' with Sarah Abo to join the network after her Today show exit - as veteran news anchor Mike Amor is told he won't get top job

Sarah Abo has reportedly held talks with Channel Seven about joining its Melbourne news bulletin following her dramatic departure from rival network Nine.

The Australian reports Seven's national news boss Ray Kuka quietly met with the former Today presenter during a visit to Melbourne late last week.

Abo, 39, is reportedly being considered as a potential successor to long-time newsreader Peter Mitchell, with another possibility being that she joins him as co-anchor in the new year.

The reported discussions come after Daily Mail revealed Abo's loyalty to former co-host Karl Stefanovic was understood to have contributed to tensions with Nine before her exit.

Abo's potential new job is a setback for Seven veteran Mike Amor, who is said to have viewed himself as Mitchell's likely successor.

According to The Australian, Kuka told Amor during a separate meeting that he was not in line to take over the flagship bulletin in the immediate future.

Amor currently presents Seven's weekend Melbourne news alongside Karina Carvalho.

The Herald Sun's Seb Costello reported that Amor emerged looking downcast from his meeting with Kuka last Thursday.

While Abo remains on Nine's payroll until the end of the year, sources cited by The Australian said her departure agreement allows her to negotiate with competing networks and announce a new position before that time.

No appointment is yet to be confirmed.

Abo already has a connection to Seven's Melbourne newsroom through news director Chris Salter, with whom she previously worked at Ten.

The latest developments follow earlier speculation that Abo could initially be given a weekend presenting role at Seven before moving to weeknights.

'I think they would give her own space on the weekend with a time frame to improve the ratings and if it works she will move into the weeknight role,' a source previously told The Daily Telegraph.

Another Nine source said: 'It wouldn't surprise me if Seven scooped her up to bolster its Melbourne newsroom. Sarah is adored by viewers in Melbourne.'

Daily Mail previously reported that Abo had expressed disappointment to senior Nine executives over the handling of Stefanovic's termination before beginning her maternity leave in July this year.

Stefanovic's departure followed his controversial interview with far-right figure Tommy Robinson for his podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show.

The interview was uploaded to YouTube before being deleted hours later following a backlash.

Nine subsequently told Daily Mail that Stefanovic could not continue working at the network while also hosting his podcast.

He was abruptly removed from Today despite previously being expected to remain with the breakfast program until the end of the year.

According to News Corp, Abo's support for her co-host further strained her relationship with Nine, which had reportedly already questioned whether the presenting partnership was working.

Nine later confirmed Abo's departure, despite reportedly offering her another position.

In her farewell statement, Abo described motherhood as the beginning of a 'new chapter' and thanked viewers for welcoming her into their homes.

'Without you, there is no Today show,' she said.

She also paid tribute to her colleagues, saying the demanding early starts were easier when the team felt like family.

'I'll miss you all dearly.'

Sylvia Jeffreys and Tom Steinfort were confirmed as the replacement Today hosting team last month.