Amir Khan claims he is close to agreeing a stunning deal to fight American pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford in the new year.

The British welterweight has been in talks with long-time rival Kell Brook, with promoter Eddie Hearn claiming the pair owe it to the British public to make the fight.

However Khan revealed on Monday that a fight in America against WBO welterweight king Crawford, a three-weight world champion, is 'there' for him - once he has ironed out a few final details with the American's promoter Bob Arum.

Amir Khan claims he is on the verge of signing to fight American star Terence Crawford

The 31-year-old said a deal needs to be struck within the next 10 days to a fortnight if the fight is going to happen .

Brook, meanwhile, returns to action this weekend with a fight against the unfancied Michael Zerafa in Sheffield. Khan will not be ringside for the fight as he will be celebrating his birthday.

The Bolton fighter insists a fight with Brook, one he believes can make more than £20million, will always be there for him, but he believes the chance to take on one of the sport's finest fighters is one he can't afford to turn down.

'Fighting for a pound for pound title would be amazing. To win it would be even better so i think I'm in a position where I can get that fight with the pound for pound champion at the moment,' he told Sportsmail.

'The Brook fight is always going to be there, it's for no title whereas I'm getting offered a world title and the pound for pound title so why not?'

Pound-for-pound star Crawford, 31, has made a name for himself fighting in the States

Khan claims a deal to fight Crawford 'can get done tomorrow,' with ticketing and press commitments the only stumbling blocks he says are left to clear.

The British fighter has been here before, having tried and failed to land big fights with both Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, but he is keen not to miss out again.

'The pound for pound title to me would be massive and when will I ever get the chance to fight for it (again)? And not only that, when will it be in the welterweight division which it is at the moment,' he added.

'Say I take the Brook fight, it might not be there then and I might not get the opportunity again. But I do want to fight Brook, 100 per cent. That's the reason I did the deal with Eddie Hearn.'

Khan believes a fight with his long-term rival Kell Brook will 'always be there' in his career

Khan has not boxed in the US since his stunning knockout defeat by Canelo Alvarez in May 2016.

After nearly two years out, he returned to the ring in April this year with a first-round stoppage of Phil Lo Greco before climbing off the floor to beat Samuel Vargas in September.

He had been in talks over a fight Brook, which he hopes could land at Wembley Stadium next year. But Khan is insisting on the fight being at 147lbs, with neither boxer allowed to put on more than 10lbs between the weigh-in and first bell. Brook, the Bolton fighter claims, has yet to agree to those stipulations.

It was reported later on Monday that Khan has been offered a $5million guarantee to fight Crawford on March 23 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

'Bud' was expected to face Luis Collazo that night, but BoxingScene claim the WBO king has yet to sign his half of the contract.

Amir Khan is launching the 'Ring the Changes' initiative with online financial trading broker ThinkMarkets (www.thinkmarkets.com) to support under-privileged young people across the UK through fundraising, mentorship, education and employment opportunities.