Kell Brook has given Amir Khan an unofficial ultimatum for a potential fight urging him to meet him in the ring by the end of the year.

Brook warned that he is seriously considering hanging up the gloves at the end of 2018 and says a long-awaited fight between him and Khan has to happen this year.

"We need to agree on a fight this year because I don't know if I will be boxing into next year, if I am honest," Brook told Sky Sports.

"I really do mean it. I am not getting any younger. I want a great year this year, no messing around, no play-time, I want big fights under my belt.

"I don't want to be talking this nonsense with Khan, him saying he wants it next year or whenever. It's got to happen pretty soon or I am done.

"I would just love to test myself against him. It will probably bring the best out of him and we will give something back to the fans for helping us throughout our careers."

A fight between the pair has long been touted, however, never came to fruition as the two boxers camps could not agree terms. Khan has several times in the past, blamed the standoff on Brook's promoter, Eddie Hearn.

“The only way I would take that Brook fight is if he left Eddie Hearn. I just don’t like Eddie Hearn,” the recently I'm a Celebrity contestant once said.

However, it seems the relationship between the Khan and Hearn have thawed recently as the two sat side by side at a press conference on Wednesday to announce Khan has signed with Hearn's stable, Matchroom.

The 31-year-old signed a three-fight deal with Hearn's Matchroom with Khan's first fight slated for April 21 at Liverpool's Echo Arena and the opponent set to be announced sometime next week.

“Great business is great business and this is a great move for everybody,” Hearn said. “This surprises a lot of people because there has been friction in the past and a lot of things have been said, particularly around failed negotiations to make the Kell Brook fight."

With Brook already signed on to fight Sergey Rabchenko in March of this year, Hearn is keen for Khan to fight a significant opponent, knowing full well it could be a warm up to the much awaited Brook-Khan fight.

With the two British brawlers now under the same stable it's now believed that the much-anticipated fight may finally happen this year. 

“It doesn’t take a genius to recognise that it brings the Brook fight closer. This isn’t a deal to make that fight happen, but it’s at the forefront of our minds to try and deliver that fight at the end of 2018. The barriers to make that in the past was the obvious animosity, but different networks and promoters too. Now all the barriers have gone, we’re all in this together.”

When Brook was asked to react to Amir Khan's signing with his stable Brook said:

"He hasn't boxed for a long time and Matchroom make things happen and make big fights in Britain, so I wasn't at all shocked," Brook said.

"It is a bit strange but that's where it will end. We have got the same promoter and that's it. Now he fights for Matchroom, finally we will see me and him in the ring."

Brook is relishing the prospect of a fight with Khan and even said he plans to watch his rival's comeback and perhaps fired the first of many shots between the two former British champions over the next few months.

He added: "And it's very possible I will be ringside. He was in Sheffield for one of my fights, so I could well be there, now we're both Matchroom.

"The fireworks could start. I might turn up for that, I might even jump in the ring and lay a chocolate brownie on him.

"No strawberries... chocolate brownies only."